front line
Americannoun
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Military. front.
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the place where in-person essential work is carried out, especially in jobs that may involve some risk, as in policing, healthcare, emergency services, public transit, grocery, warehouse, and delivery work.
Our bookstore extends a discount to all the teachers, aides, specialists, librarians, and therapists who are on the front line serving our children in schools every day.
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the visible forefront in any action, activity, or field.
TV reporters are constantly involved in the front line of events.
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Football. front four.
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Basketball. front court.
noun
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military the most advanced military units or elements in a battle
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the most advanced, exposed, or conspicuous element in any activity or situation
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frontline. (modifier)
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of, relating to, or suitable for the front line of a military formation
frontline troops
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of, relating to, or suitable for public service and business employees who are in direct contact with the public
frontline staff
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to the fore; advanced, conspicuous, etc
frontline news
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of or relating to a country bordering on or close to a hostile country or scene of armed conflict
leaders of the frontline states attended the summit
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Etymology
Origin of front line
First recorded in 1670–80
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Build With Ukraine model “is important to us, because it means additional weapons for our front line, paid for by our partners,” said Oleksandr Kamyshin, Zelensky’s adviser for strategic affairs who oversees military industries.
Khamenei spent months at a time on the front lines, where many of the commanders and soldiers he met and knew were killed.
From BBC
The company’s Claude model and AI tools are on the front line of U.S. innovation, and nothing is more important for U.S. troops than having the battlefield edge in technology.
Four Kenyans who made it home told AFP this month they had met dozens of Africans in training camps in Russia or on the front line, from Nigeria, Cameroon, Egpyt and South Africa.
From Barron's
They are expected to engage with WHO teams, visit front line health and mental health programmes and meet World Central Kitchen staff who are co-ordinating food relief for Gaza from Amman.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
