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 case dates to March 11, when Parks Director Zonya Ray was transporting juveniles to football practice in a city van.
—
Chelsea Jones, Miami Herald, 4 June 2026
More than 2,200 pounds of cocaine seized The operation led to traffic stops involving two trucks and a van connected to the investigation.
—Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 2 June 2026
Large-scale construction projects like this will likely require the off-Earth equivalent of 18-wheelers and sprinter vans — the type of spacecraft that Impulse Space is building and deploying now.
—Mike Wall, Space.com, 2 June 2026
On Friday, agents observed a man loading three large, heavy items into a white van.
—Alexandra Mendoza, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for van
Chelsea Jones, Miami Herald, 4 June 2026
More than 2,200 pounds of cocaine seized The operation led to traffic stops involving two trucks and a van connected to the investigation.
—Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 2 June 2026
Large-scale construction projects like this will likely require the off-Earth equivalent of 18-wheelers and sprinter vans — the type of spacecraft that Impulse Space is building and deploying now.
—Mike Wall, Space.com, 2 June 2026
On Friday, agents observed a man loading three large, heavy items into a white van.
—Alexandra Mendoza, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for van
Recent Examples of Synonyms for van
Noun
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If experimental and vanguard poetry is set on fragmenting the lyric I, verse plays and poet’s theater redistribute it.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 May 2026
-
Most notably, the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab or CSAIL, directed capably by my colleague Daniela Rus, is in there, where intrepid teams work on such vanguard projects as liquid AI models.—
John Werner,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2026
Noun
-
With decades of experience in healthcare entrepreneurship and policy advocacy, Jacobs has been at the forefront of transforming healthcare through mindful practices and collaborative efforts.—
Gary Jacobs,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
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One of the real forefronts in the field right now is figuring out how to solve the delivery problem for all these other tissue types.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
11 June 2026
Noun
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Visitors help the staff dig and build a traditional imu underground with volcanic rocks, banana stumps, ti leaves and burlap sacks, and then fill the pit with mea ʻai staples like kālua pork, chicken, taro, yams and breadfruit.—
Joe Yogerst,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
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When oil wells are shut in, the pressure underground can become imbalanced, deforming the underlying structure.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
27 May 2026
Noun
-
He's considered one of the planet’s most versatile watermen, with accolades that include eight-time stand-up paddle world champion, hydrofoil pioneer, and big-wave master.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 June 2026
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That’s often the case — the pioneer may get the credit, but the first follower gets the glory.—
Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson,
VIBE.com,
7 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Van.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/van. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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