frontline
frontline — adjective
- frontlinepositive
- more frontlinecomparative
- most frontlinesuperlative
1. describing soldiers, medical workers, or military units that are directly engage
describing soldiers, medical workers, or military units that are directly engaged in armed fighting against the enemy.
Exhausted and low on ammunition, the frontline troops were ordered to advance before sunrise.
collocation: frontline troops
A frontline medic treated four wounded soldiers under heavy gunfire.
collocation: frontline medic
Supply shortages made life even harder for frontline soldiers that winter.
The colonel visited frontline units to raise morale before the offensive.
Many frontline nurses risk their own safety to pull the wounded to safety.
- rear
located away from the enemy, behind the combat area
文法句型
frontline + noun (military personnel or units)
用法筆記
Attributive only — this sense is always used before a noun describing personnel (troops, soldiers, medics, nurses, units). Not used predicatively (❌ 'These troops are frontline').
常見錯誤
2. located at or near the part of a battlefield that is closest to the enemy's forc
located at or near the part of a battlefield that is closest to the enemy's forces, often used to describe positions, zones, or strongholds.
The village lay just behind the frontline zone, within range of enemy artillery.
collocation: frontline zone
Frontline positions were reinforced with sandbags and barbed wire overnight.
collocation: frontline positions
The frontline trenches stretched for nearly two kilometres across the valley.
Heavy blizzards along the frontline stranded supply trucks on the mountain pass for a week.
The frontline outpost was the first to detect movement from the enemy camp.
- rear
the area behind the battlefield, away from enemy contact
文法句型
frontline + noun (geographical position or area)
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (IN COMBAT): sense 1 describes the people doing the fighting; sense 2 describes the physical area or position where fighting occurs. For example, 'frontline troops' (sense 1) occupy 'frontline positions' (sense 2).
3. describing workers whose job puts them in direct contact with the public, custom
describing workers whose job puts them in direct contact with the public, customers, or people in need, often in difficult or demanding situations.
Frontline healthcare workers have been operating around the clock since the outbreak began.
collocation: frontline healthcare workers
The bank provides extra training for all its frontline customer-service staff.
collocation: frontline customer-service staff
Frontline social workers help families facing eviction, unemployment, or illness every day.
Police officers are often the frontline responders in domestic and mental-health emergencies.
The hotel trains its frontline receptionists to handle guest complaints with patience and care.
- first-line
more formal; 'first-line managers' supervise directly, while 'frontline workers' have direct public contact
- direct
broader meaning; 'direct care' includes any hands-on contact, not necessarily in a high-pressure setting
- public-facing
more neutral tone; often used in business rather than healthcare contexts
- back-office
referring to administrative or support roles that do not interact with the public
- behind-the-scenes
informal; describing work done away from public view
文法句型
frontline + noun (job role or worker type)
用法筆記
Attributive only. This sense has expanded in recent years from military use to describe any public-facing role. Common nouns paired with this sense include workers, staff, personnel, team, and responders.
常見錯誤
4. describing the most important or skilled players in a specific position or area
describing the most important or skilled players in a specific position or area of a team sport, whether in attack, midfield, or defence.
The team's frontline players scored three goals in the first twenty minutes.
collocation: frontline players
The team's frontline striker has scored fourteen goals this season.
The coach is looking for a tall, fast centre-forward to strengthen the frontline attack.
An injury to the team's frontline midfielder hurt their chances of reaching the finals.
The opposing frontline defence was difficult to break through in the second half.
- defensive
describing players whose primary role is to prevent the opponent from scoring
文法句型
frontline + noun (player or position)
用法筆記
Attributive only. Used mainly in football (soccer), rugby, hockey, and American football. Can describe offensive, midfield, or defensive players depending on which area of the sport is being discussed.
常見錯誤
frontline — noun
1. the line or area on a battlefield that is closest to the enemy forces, where act
the line or area on a battlefield that is closest to the enemy forces, where active combat between opposing armies takes place.
The soldiers were ordered to move closer to the front line under cover of darkness.
collocation: move to the front line
All communication with units on the front line was cut off after the bombing raid.
The front line shifted several miles east after the overnight offensive by government forces.
New recruits were sent to the front line after only two weeks of training.
The front line ran from the northern mountains to the southern river.
- battlefield
broader — the entire area where fighting occurs, not just the closest point to the enemy
- combat zone
larger area than 'front line'; includes surrounding areas where military operations happen
- rear
the area behind the fighting, where supplies and support are based
文法句型
the front line
on / at / behind the front line
用法筆記
Often written as two words ('front line') in noun form, but also commonly seen as one word ('frontline'). The definite article 'the' is almost always used. Frequently appears with prepositions 'on', 'at', or 'behind'.
常見錯誤
2. an area, situation, or domain where opposing groups, ideas, or forces are engage
an area, situation, or domain where opposing groups, ideas, or forces are engaged in active conflict, competition, or struggle.
The debate over school funding has become a new front line in the education wars.
collocation: new front line in the ... wars
Activist groups have moved to the front line of the battle against climate change.
The courtroom became the front line of a legal battle between the two technology companies.
Journalists reporting from protest sites often find themselves on the front line of political unrest.
The neighbourhood found itself on the front line of the city's fight against gang violence.
- battleground
more dramatic; 'a battleground of ideas' emphasises the clash itself, while 'front line' emphasises the position of those involved
- arena
more neutral; 'the arena of public opinion' describes the space where conflict occurs without the war metaphor
文法句型
the front line of [conflict/battle/struggle]
on the front line of [something]
用法筆記
Metaphorical extension of the military sense. This sense shifts from literal warfare to any domain where active conflict or competition exists. The noun following 'of' names the specific struggle (e.g. 'the front line of the drug war').
常見錯誤
3. the leading or most advanced position in a particular field or activity, where i
the leading or most advanced position in a particular field or activity, where important new ideas, discoveries, or major changes first happen and attract the most attention — for example, at the front line of cancer research or renewable-energy technology.
The research team is at the front line of developing treatments for Alzheimer's disease.
pattern: at the front line of developing
Taiwanese semiconductor companies operate on the front line of global technology innovation.
collocation: on the front line of innovation
A group of young entrepreneurs is on the front line of the sustainable fashion movement.
The university's engineering department remains at the front line of renewable-energy research.
Doctors who created the vaccine worked on the front line of medicine during the pandemic.
- forefront
nearly identical; 'forefront' is slightly more natural for cutting-edge innovation, while 'front line' retains a hint of the military metaphor
- cutting edge
stronger emphasis on newness and advanced technology; 'cutting-edge research' focuses on novelty, while 'front line' also suggests a position of responsibility
- vanguard
more formal and literary; 'the vanguard of the movement' suggests pioneering leadership
文法句型
at / on the front line of [field/activity]
the front line of [innovation/research/development]
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2 (CONFLICT ZONE): sense 2 emphasises struggle or opposition, while sense 3 emphasises innovation, advancement, and being at the cutting edge. Sense 3 often pairs with nouns like innovation, research, technology, and development.