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
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Recent Examples of van
The city plans to continue contracting with an outside vendor to provide the paramedics, EMTs and vans.
—
Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 15 Mar. 2026
Lurking in the forest is Jerry (David Wilmot), a vagabond living in his van, whose animosity with Fergal (Michael Patric), the inn owner’s prickly adult son, will play a role in how the days ahead will go haywire.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 15 Mar. 2026
The Monday of the HIV test began with Mercado climbing into the driver’s seat of a van and pulling out of a Mission Valley parking lot.
—Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026
The defense has said that Morris never got out of her van during the protest.
—Emerson Clarridge
updated March 13, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for van
Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 15 Mar. 2026
Lurking in the forest is Jerry (David Wilmot), a vagabond living in his van, whose animosity with Fergal (Michael Patric), the inn owner’s prickly adult son, will play a role in how the days ahead will go haywire.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 15 Mar. 2026
The Monday of the HIV test began with Mercado climbing into the driver’s seat of a van and pulling out of a Mission Valley parking lot.
—Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026
The defense has said that Morris never got out of her van during the protest.
—Emerson Clarridge
updated March 13, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for van
Recent Examples of Synonyms for van
Noun
-
As the old vanguard of civil rights leaders pass, who will fill the void?—
Brittany Luse,
NPR,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The once-insurgent vanguards who cast their first votes for Barack Obama have relinquished their cool factor to Gen Z, who will one day undergo the same process themselves as time continues its relentless march forward.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Kalshi has been at the forefront of that legal fight as the platforms barrel into states without regard to their gambling rules.—
Bloomberg Wire,
Dallas Morning News,
18 Mar. 2026
-
In fact, Connecticut has often been at the forefront of innovation in container redemption.—
Chuck Riegle,
Hartford Courant,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
His father was forged by years of revolutionary hardship—prison, persecution, life underground—before coming to power and reportedly amassing a war chest exceeding $100 billion, built in part from properties confiscated from religious minorities who fled persecution.—
Karim Sadjadpour,
The Atlantic,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Bunn had previously used AI to search for new sources of oil underground, but pivoted to medical work after his wife had a series of miscarriages.—
Meg Wingerter,
Denver Post,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Tomkins was hired full time by The New Yorker in 1960 and his first nonfiction feature story, on the Kinetic art pioneer Jean Tinguely, appeared two years later.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
20 Mar. 2026
-
The two other 2026 inductees are the Stanley Brothers, bluegrass pioneers who will be honored in the Veteran Era Artist category, and Paul Overstreet, who will be inducted in the Songwriter category.—
Joseph Hudak,
Rolling Stone,
20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Van.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/van. Accessed 24 Mar. 2026.
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