1
a
: a usually enclosed wagon or motortruck used for transportation of goods or animals
also
: caravan sense 2a
b
: a multipurpose enclosed motor vehicle having a boxlike shape, rear or side doors, and side panels often with windows
c
: a detachable passenger cabin transportable by aircraft or truck
2
chiefly British
: an enclosed railroad freight or baggage car
1
dialectal, England
: a winnowing device (such as a fan)
2
Synonyms
Examples of van in a Sentence
Noun (2)
an artist who was in the van of abstract expressionism
a company that is considered by some to be in the van of the latest technology for renewable energy
Recent Examples on the Web
Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 8 May 2024
You're supposed to get in a standing van so your dress didn't wrinkle.
—Tabitha Parent, Peoplemag, 7 May 2024
The trucks will haul shipping containers from the ports to the Amazon freight center in Sante Fe Springs, where containers will be unloaded and the goods shipped to distribution centers and airports, and finally to delivery stations, where vans load up on packages for homes and businesses.
—Russ Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2024
He was injured Friday morning, the Sheriff’s Office said, after deputies patrolling an area of the city saw a van that matched the description of a vehicle sought in connection with a recent burglary.
—Stephen Hobbs, Sacramento Bee, 5 May 2024
She was assisted by Caleb Johnson, a native of Beaumont, Texas, who'd been traveling with his wife in a van for the past five years, doing seasonal work and hiking.
—Jesse Ashlock, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 May 2024
The tax documents for the 800 or so clients will be transported to Sulton's office in a secure van from the IRS.
—Gina Lee Castro, Journal Sentinel, 3 May 2024
Police said officers noticed a Dodge van driving near Hoover and Common about 1:20 p.m. Sunday.
—Christina Hall, Detroit Free Press, 2 May 2024
Morality police vans had largely vanished from the streets since last year.
—Parisa Hafezi, The Christian Science Monitor, 23 Apr. 2024
Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Mar. 2024
This little Sundance-darling-that-could is as quirky and charming as the yellow Volkswagon van the Hoovers use for their road trip to California.
—Andrew Walsh, EW.com, 27 Nov. 2023
Natalee Holloway's Mom Reveals How Joran van der Sloot Killed Her Daughter in 2005 (Exclusive)
Van der Sloot, 36, was temporarily extradited to Alabama in June to face extortion and wire fraud charges in a case connected to Natalee’s 2005 disappearance.
—Emily Palmer, Peoplemag, 31 Oct. 2023
Noun
Thanks in part to the enduring popularity of the Microbus, or Type 2 as it’s known to enthusiasts, few companies are more associated with camper vans than VW.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 8 May 2024
You're supposed to get in a standing van so your dress didn't wrinkle.
—Tabitha Parent, Peoplemag, 7 May 2024
The trucks will haul shipping containers from the ports to the Amazon freight center in Sante Fe Springs, where containers will be unloaded and the goods shipped to distribution centers and airports, and finally to delivery stations, where vans load up on packages for homes and businesses.
—Russ Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2024
He was injured Friday morning, the Sheriff’s Office said, after deputies patrolling an area of the city saw a van that matched the description of a vehicle sought in connection with a recent burglary.
—Stephen Hobbs, Sacramento Bee, 5 May 2024
She was assisted by Caleb Johnson, a native of Beaumont, Texas, who'd been traveling with his wife in a van for the past five years, doing seasonal work and hiking.
—Jesse Ashlock, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 May 2024
The tax documents for the 800 or so clients will be transported to Sulton's office in a secure van from the IRS.
—Gina Lee Castro, Journal Sentinel, 3 May 2024
Police said officers noticed a Dodge van driving near Hoover and Common about 1:20 p.m. Sunday.
—Christina Hall, Detroit Free Press, 2 May 2024
Morality police vans had largely vanished from the streets since last year.
—Parisa Hafezi, The Christian Science Monitor, 23 Apr. 2024
Verb
Many Del Mar trainers stable and train their horses at San Luis Rey Downs, which can handle up to 500 horses, and van them to the track for races.
—Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Mar. 2024
This little Sundance-darling-that-could is as quirky and charming as the yellow Volkswagon van the Hoovers use for their road trip to California.
—Andrew Walsh, EW.com, 27 Nov. 2023
Natalee Holloway's Mom Reveals How Joran van der Sloot Killed Her Daughter in 2005 (Exclusive)
Van der Sloot, 36, was temporarily extradited to Alabama in June to face extortion and wire fraud charges in a case connected to Natalee’s 2005 disappearance.
—Emily Palmer, Peoplemag, 31 Oct. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'van.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Van.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/van. Accessed 17 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
van
2 of 2 noun1
: a usually closed wagon or truck for transporting goods or animals
2
: an enclosed motor vehicle shaped like a box that is used for a variety of purposes and has rear or side doors and side panels often with windows
Etymology
Noun
a shortened form of vanguard
Noun
a shortened form of caravan "vehicle"
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