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
Later that morning, the same bear tore open the door to a camper van with teenagers sleeping inside and harassed others at the campground, officials said.
—
Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 25 June 2025
Piling into a van driven by their coach, members of the team reunited with their teammates as they were located, including Koch, who was with two others.
—Maddie Carr, Kansas City Star, 24 June 2025
Los Angeles mayor lifts curfew after protests subside The demonstrations appear to be winding down, although dozens of protesters showed up Thursday at Dodger Stadium, where a group of federal agents gathered at a parking lot with their faces covered, traveling in SUVs and cargo vans.
—Sara Braun, Fortune, 21 June 2025
One time, before Indecision opened for Run-D.M.C. in Holland, a truck backed into their rental van, which wasn’t legally allowed to leave France.
—Dan Greene, New Yorker, 21 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for van
Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 25 June 2025
Piling into a van driven by their coach, members of the team reunited with their teammates as they were located, including Koch, who was with two others.
—Maddie Carr, Kansas City Star, 24 June 2025
Los Angeles mayor lifts curfew after protests subside The demonstrations appear to be winding down, although dozens of protesters showed up Thursday at Dodger Stadium, where a group of federal agents gathered at a parking lot with their faces covered, traveling in SUVs and cargo vans.
—Sara Braun, Fortune, 21 June 2025
One time, before Indecision opened for Run-D.M.C. in Holland, a truck backed into their rental van, which wasn’t legally allowed to leave France.
—Dan Greene, New Yorker, 21 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for van
Recent Examples of Synonyms for van
Noun
-
Lalonde was key in developing a unique strategy that brought the group’s vanguard brands B&B Italia, Flos, Louis Poulsen, Maxalto, Arclinea and Azucena under one roof.—
Sofia Celeste,
Footwear News,
27 June 2025
-
The multi-media vanguard is now channeling his creative vision into telling authentic stories of Black love through independent filmmaking.—
Maia Niguel Hoskin,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2025
Noun
-
The three accounts that were at the forefront of the action were X users Viktorious Hovland, Hovland Updates and Daily Hovi.—
Savannah Leigh Richardson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 July 2025
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Throughout summer 2025, Gomez has been at the forefront of this year's most minimalist nail trends—from simple purple pastels to nearly naked glass manicures—but that hasn't always been her preference.—
Emily Tannenbaum,
Glamour,
5 July 2025
Noun
-
But, of course, a facility like Fordow underground is dependent on a lot of infrastructure.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 June 2025
-
Turkmenistan possesses the world’s fourth largest reserves of natural gas in its underground, exporting gas to countries such as Pakistan, China, India, Iran and Russia.—
David Bressan,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2025
Noun
-
The neo-soul pioneer treated fans to a journey through her extensive catalog of hits, each song delivered with her signature blend of spiritual intensity and playful irreverence.—
Skylar Mitchell,
Essence,
6 July 2025
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Jennings was already a country music legend before joining the show, as a pioneer of the outlaw country movement alongside artists like Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
People.com,
5 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Van.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/van. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.
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