upfront
upfront Lexical Profile
upfront Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Frank, honest, and direct in manner or speech, without hiding anything.
"The manager was completely upfront about the financial challenges facing the department."
Paid, made, or required in advance, before goods are delivered or services are performed.
"The contractor requested an upfront fee to cover the cost of building materials."
• adverb
In advance; at the beginning of an arrangement or transaction, especially regarding payment.
"Subscribers who pay for the full year upfront receive a twenty percent discount."
Openly, candidly, and at the outset.
"She told the interview panel upfront that she would need two weeks to relocate."
• noun
North American An annual presentation held by television networks and streaming platforms before the broadcast season to showcase upcoming programs to advertisers and secure advance commercial commitments.
"Major advertisers bought billions of dollars in commercial airtime during the spring upfronts."
Word Nuance & Usage
When describing spatial position (such as sitting in the front row), the two-word phrase 'up front' is standard, whereas the closed compound 'upfront' (or hyphenated 'up-front') is preferred for advance payments and candid behavior.