frank
gb/fɹˈæŋk/ us/fɹˈæŋk/
B1
English
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B2
property
1
honest and direct in speech
honest and direct
Usage pattern:
a frank [conversation/answer/admission]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse frank (honest) with friendly; a frank comment can sound blunt or critical.
Synonyms
candid (Often suggests honest openness without trying to soften the truth.)
|
straightforward (Emphasizes clarity and simplicity as well as honesty.)
|
blunt (Suggests frankness that may sound harsh or rude.)
Antonyms
guarded (Careful and not fully open about thoughts or feelings.)
|
evasive (Avoiding a clear or direct answer.)
Collocations
frank discussion
|frank conversation
|frank talk
|frank admission
|frank answer
|frank appraisal
|frank criticism
|frank remark
|frank warning
|refreshingly frank
Themes
communication
|relationships
|emotions
Examples
- She gave a frank assessment of the team's chances.
- We need a frank conversation about money.
- His frank comments surprised everyone in the meeting.
Learner examples
- Please be frank with me.
- He is frank and honest.
adjective
formal
C1
property
2
clear and unmistakable
very clear and easy to see
Usage pattern:
frank [pain/bleeding/signs]
Common mistake:
This sense is more formal and often used in medical/academic contexts; it does not mean 'honest' here.
Synonyms
overt (Often used for something clearly seen or done openly.)
|
clear (General word; less specialized than 'frank' in this sense.)
|
unmistakable (Emphasizes that it cannot be confused with something else.)
Antonyms
subtle (Not obvious; difficult to notice.)
|
hidden (Not visible or not clearly shown.)
Collocations
frank pain
|frank bleeding
|frank symptoms
|frank signs
|frank infection
|frank malignancy
|frank blood
|frank weakness
Themes
health
|formal_writing
Examples
- The scan showed frank bleeding, so they moved quickly.
- By the second day, there were frank signs of infection.
- The patient reported frank pain when walking.
Learner examples
- The doctor saw frank signs of infection.
Noun
informal
B1
entity
3
a hot dog
a hot dog sausage
Usage pattern:
a [beef/chicken] frank
Common mistake:
Often used in American English; 'frank' is less common than 'hot dog' in many contexts.
Synonyms
hot dog (The most common everyday term.)
|
frankfurter (More formal or specific; often shortened to 'frank'.)
Collocations
beef frank
|turkey frank
|a grilled frank
|a frank in a bun
|frank and bun
|eat a frank
|cook franks
Themes
food
|daily_life
Examples
- I’ll take a frank with mustard, please.
- They grilled franks for the kids after the game.
- She cut up a frank and added it to the beans.
Learner examples
- I ate a frank for lunch.
Noun
technical
C1
entity
4
postal mark for free postage
an official mark that pays for mail
Usage pattern:
a frank on [a letter/envelope]
Common mistake:
Not the same as a regular 'stamp'; a frank is an official authorization mark.
Synonyms
franking mark (More explicit term; used in postal contexts.)
|
postmark (Related postal marking, but a postmark mainly shows date/place, not payment authorization.)
Collocations
official frank
|congressional frank
|postal frank
|a franked envelope
|apply a frank
|free frank
Themes
mail
|business
|government
Examples
- The envelope carried an official frank instead of a stamp.
- Mail sent under a congressional frank does not require postage.
- The clerk checked the frank before sorting the letters.
Learner examples
- This letter has a frank, not a stamp.
Verb
technical
C1
action
5
mark mail as postage paid
to put an official postage mark on mail
Usage pattern:
frank [a letter/envelope]
Common mistake:
This verb is specialized; in everyday English people usually say 'stamp a letter' or 'put a stamp on it.'
Synonyms
stamp (General verb for putting postage on mail; not always free/official.)
|
endorse (Can mean to sign to authorize, but is broader than postal use.)
Antonyms
refuse (Opposite action: not authorizing the mailing.)
Collocations
frank a letter
|frank an envelope
|frank the mail
|frank correspondence
|machine-frank
Themes
mail
|business
|government
Examples
- Staff members franked the envelopes before the mailing went out.
- The office is allowed to frank official correspondence.
- Each package must be franked and logged before pickup.
Learner examples
- They franked the letters at the office.
Grammar
Dictionary form
frank
IPA
GB/fɹˈæŋk/
US/fɹˈæŋk/
Syllables & stress
frank (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (frank)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: frank
- Comparative: franker
- Superlative: frankest
Noun
- Base: frank
- Plural: franks
Verb
- Base: frank
- 3rd Person Singular: franks
- Present Participle: franking
- Past: franked
Word family
Expressions
be frank with someone
1/bˈi fɹˈæŋk wˈɪθ sˈʌmwˌʌn/
fixed phrase
tell someone the truth directly
to tell someone something honestly
Examples
- I’ll be frank with you: we’re over budget.
- She was frank with her manager about needing time off.
- Be frank with me about what happened.
to be frank
1/tə bˈi fɹˈæŋk/
fixed phrase
speaking honestly and directly
I will say this honestly.
Examples
- To be frank, I don’t think this plan will work.
- To be frank, your presentation needs more data.
- To be frank, I’m not comfortable with the timeline.