van

1
as in vanguard
the innovators of new concepts, styles, and techniques especially in the arts an artist who was in the van of abstract expressionism

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in forefront
the leading or most important part of a movement a company that is considered by some to be in the van of the latest technology for renewable energy

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of van The Irish Times, which published a video of a burning police van, reported that over 500 people were involved in the protest outside the building in West Dublin on Tuesday evening. Reuters, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2025 The Detroit automaker allocated the electric commercial vans into its Chevrolet brand last year in a bid to boost its performance as GM tries to gain ground against competitors, including Ford and Rivian, in the market. Jackie Charniga, Freep.com, 21 Oct. 2025 The pair are said to have taken turns guarding the works overnight; the missing work is not yet confirmed to have been placed in the delivery van, and no arrests have yet been made. News Desk, Artforum, 21 Oct. 2025 To avoid Lesch, the Honda driver swerved and crashed into Pack’s van on the side of the highway, the district attorney’s office said. Daniella Segura, Sacbee.com, 21 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for van
Recent Examples of Synonyms for van
Noun
  • The oysterman has been catapulted onto the national stage as part of a vanguard of progressive, young candidates who have gained widespread support by appealing to working class voters.
    Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 16 Oct. 2025
  • The San Francisco 49ers, vanguards of the outside zone run game, cannot run the ball.
    Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 15 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The mega cap tech giant has been at the forefront of the most talked about theme this year – and likely next — which companies will be among the AI winners.
    Paulina Likos, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2025
  • With the sun and your celestial ruler, Venus, moving through your seventh house of other people, everything from your connections, whether romantic, professional or otherwise, to your contractual agreements is at the forefront.
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Ascending from the horror underground, CBS daytime show The Talk covered theater-goers hurling at screenings.
    Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Unlike the neo-Leninist underground, moreover, dissidents had no desire to revive Bolshevik revolutionary traditions, with their ideological discipline, armed conspiracy, and noms de guerre.
    Benjamin Nathans September 24, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The transformation reinforces our position as a pioneer in the region’s retail and leisure landscape.
    Ritu Upadhyay, Footwear News, 28 Oct. 2025
  • National Mining Hall of Fame & Museum Located downtown, the National Mining Hall of Fame & Museum dives deep into the region’s economic history, with exhibits that cover mining culture, pioneer life, Indigenous history, and period photographs from the region.
    Karthika Gupta, Travel + Leisure, 27 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Van.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/van. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

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