Meaning & use
front row
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Meanings
nouncountable
The line of seats or desks nearest the stage, screen, speaker or teacher.
Grammar: Usually with the: in the front row.
Patterns
- in the front row
- a seat in the front row
We arrived early and got seats in the front row.
The shortest students sat in the front row.
She waved from the front row of the theater.
nouncountablefigurative
The position of being very close to important events or a famous person, used for a privileged view.
Grammar: Often used figuratively with a: a front row seat.
Patterns
- a front row seat to something
As a reporter, he had a front row seat to the election.
Parents get a front row view of their children's growth.
nouncountablespecialist
In fashion, the first line of seats beside the runway, reserved for celebrities, editors and key buyers.
Grammar: Usually with the.
Patterns
- in the front row at something
Famous actors filled the front row at the fashion show.
Critics in the front row noted every detail of the collection.
Word forms
| plural | front rows |
|---|
Common combinations
- sit in the front row
- I like to sit in the front row at concerts.
- front row seats
- They bought front row seats for the play.
- front row tickets
- Front row tickets sold out within minutes.
- a front row seat to history
- The photographer had a front row seat to history.
- front row of the audience
- A child in the front row of the audience laughed loudly.
Synonyms and how they differ
- first row
- This means almost the same but is a plain numbered description, while front row feels more natural for seats.
- ringside
- This comes from boxing and suggests a very close, privileged view of action.
- stalls
- This is British and means the ground-floor seating in a theater, which is larger than the front row.
- best seats
- This is looser and does not specify the position in the room.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: front row or front line?
front row vs front line
The front line is where fighting or major action occurs, not a line of seats.
Practice
We could see every detail of the stage because we were sitting in the ______.
Choose one answer.
The front row is closest to the stage. The back row would be far away, so it would not give a clear view of detail.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “front row”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.