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Meaning & use

in front

phrase·Everyday

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UK/ɪn ˈfrʌnt/
US/ɪn ˈfrʌnt/

Meanings

  1. phrasefixed phrase

    Ahead of someone or something in position, so that it is nearer the front.

    Grammar: Used alone as an adverb or with of before a noun: in front of the house.

    Patterns

    • in front of someone
    • in front of something
    • sit in front

    The car in front stopped suddenly.

    She parked in front of the library.

    Please walk in front so we can follow you.

  2. phrasefixed phrase

    Leading in a race or contest, or ahead of others in score or progress.

    Grammar: Used after be or go: they are in front.

    Patterns

    • go in front
    • be in front

    Our team went in front just before half-time.

    The runner in front never looked back.

    She was in front after the second round.

  3. phrasefixed phrase

    In the presence of other people who can see or hear what happens.

    Grammar: Always used with of: in front of the class.

    Patterns

    • in front of someone
    • in front of the audience

    He was too shy to sing in front of strangers.

    Don't argue in front of the children.

    She gave the talk in front of a hundred people.

Common combinations

in front of
The taxi waited in front of the hotel.
sit in front
Let me sit in front, because I get carsick.
in front of everyone
He was embarrassed to be corrected in front of everyone.
go in front
The leaders went in front on the final turn.
stand in front
The tall man stood in front of me at the concert.

Synonyms and how they differ

ahead
Ahead stresses forward movement or time and is more common with travel or planning.
before
Before as a place word is formal or literary, and in front is the usual spoken choice.
in the lead
In the lead is used only for a contest or race, unlike in front which also describes position.
opposite
Opposite means across from something, not ahead of it.

Opposites

behindat the back

Word family

front noun
the forward-facing part
front adjective
located at the forward part
frontal adjective
of or at the front
frontage noun
the side of a building facing a road

Commonly confused: in front or infront? in front or in the front?

in front vs infront

Infront is a common misspelling; the correct form is two words, in front.

in front vs in the front

In the front names a part inside something, such as the front seat, while in front is a relative position outside.

Practice

The bus stopped ___ the school.

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