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
In the proceeding years, visitors who wanted to spend the night in the park could rent houseboats, erect tents, or park their camper vans or RVs, but the nearest hotel was located about an hour away in Florida City.
—
Mariette Williams, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 2025
The family loaded her into a rented van and took off for Kaj’s house, in San Diego.
—Sarah Stillman, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2025
In 2023 and 2024, the automaker sold only about 2,000 of the electric vans, according to its sales reports.
—Michael Wayland, CNBC, 11 Apr. 2025
Newsom appeals ‘irrational and malicious’ decision to cut USDA food assistance program
What else is going on
A driver crashed a van into crowd of shoppers in L.A.’s Santee Alley, injuring nine, including three children
Southern California is expected to get possible record-breaking heat this week.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for van
Mariette Williams, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 2025
The family loaded her into a rented van and took off for Kaj’s house, in San Diego.
—Sarah Stillman, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2025
In 2023 and 2024, the automaker sold only about 2,000 of the electric vans, according to its sales reports.
—Michael Wayland, CNBC, 11 Apr. 2025
Newsom appeals ‘irrational and malicious’ decision to cut USDA food assistance program
What else is going on
A driver crashed a van into crowd of shoppers in L.A.’s Santee Alley, injuring nine, including three children
Southern California is expected to get possible record-breaking heat this week.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for van
Recent Examples of Synonyms for van
Noun
-
Writer-director Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu, out December 25, aims to lead the latest in the fang-banging vanguard.—
Angela Watercutter,
WIRED,
25 Dec. 2024
-
Katy Perry 39, received this year's video vanguard award and treated viewers to a medley of her biggest hits — plus, presumably, material from her upcoming 143 album.—
Jack Irvin,
Peoplemag,
12 Sep. 2024
Noun
-
The nursery industry, once reliant on seasonal foot traffic and word-of-mouth marketing, is now at the forefront of an e-commerce boom with direct-to-consumer sales and social media playing a critical role.—
Tammy Sons,
Forbes.com,
24 Apr. 2025
-
Zipline says safety is at the forefront of their autonomous delivery aircraft.—
Ella Gonzales,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
By downplaying riders’ fears, advocates have allowed the MTA to be framed as a lawless underground.—
David Garten,
New York Daily News,
28 Apr. 2025
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Hannah said Iran’s secretive underground Fordow nuclear fuel enrichment plant and Natanz nuclear site were where Iran was caught digging tunnels in the mountains.—
Benjamin Weinthal,
FOXNews.com,
19 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The early pioneer in self-driving technology, Waymo has managed to beat Elon Musk-led Tesla and a myriad of now-defunct autonomous vehicle startups to the U.S. market.—
Lora Kolodny,Jennifer Elias,
CNBC,
24 Apr. 2025
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All this is to say that the longest in the world may have actually taken place in the woods, where more skiers than ever are now skimming the backcountry meltwater all spring long—just like the Slush Cup pioneers, Cyril Paris and Cliff White.—
Anna Fiorentino,
Smithsonian Magazine,
18 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Van.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/van. Accessed 5 May. 2025.
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