1
as in vanguards
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 forefronts
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of vans
In a video detailing the new 458 Pro camper debut, Ari notes that potential customers have frequently asked about camper versions of its panel vans.
—
New Atlas, 6 Apr. 2026
The penalty for those caught listening by German detector vans was deportation to a concentration camp.
—Max Hastings, Twin Cities, 5 Apr. 2026
The penalty for those caught listening by German detector vans was deportation to a concentration camp.
—Max Hastings, Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2026
Trucks and vans, filled with bodies, arrived every few days.
—Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2026
Buses, trains and automobiles His various modes of transportation along the way have ranged from buses, trains, vans, hitchhiking, horses, motorbikes, slow boats, sea barges, bicycles and even a poultry truck.
—Salma Arafa, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2026
The Canoo vans will be available as backups.
—Miles Doran, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2026
The demonstrators who remained were lined up outside the building as officers zip-tied their hands behind their backs and loaded them into vans.
—Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2026
The vans serve about 190 students, many of whom rely on strict daily routines.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 28 Mar. 2026
New Atlas, 6 Apr. 2026
The penalty for those caught listening by German detector vans was deportation to a concentration camp.
—Max Hastings, Twin Cities, 5 Apr. 2026
The penalty for those caught listening by German detector vans was deportation to a concentration camp.
—Max Hastings, Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2026
Trucks and vans, filled with bodies, arrived every few days.
—Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2026
Buses, trains and automobiles His various modes of transportation along the way have ranged from buses, trains, vans, hitchhiking, horses, motorbikes, slow boats, sea barges, bicycles and even a poultry truck.
—Salma Arafa, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2026
The Canoo vans will be available as backups.
—Miles Doran, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2026
The demonstrators who remained were lined up outside the building as officers zip-tied their hands behind their backs and loaded them into vans.
—Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2026
The vans serve about 190 students, many of whom rely on strict daily routines.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 28 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vans
Noun
-
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
-
Pants-optional dressing was arguably the biggest fashion trend of 2025, with celebrity style vanguards like Heidi Klum, Gisele Bündchen, and Sydney Sweeney opting to leave their pants at home in favor of cheeky outfits—and Eva Longoria is getting on the pantsless bandwagon.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
29 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Coworth forefronts its equestrian roots, with stables on site as well as polo fields.—
Lydia Bell,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Over the past week, Ukrainian drones have struck Russian fuel tanks and ammunition depots some 100 kilometers (65 miles) from the front lines in Luhansk, as well as a Russian air defense system more than 130 kilometers from the region’s border, according to geolocated video.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Gun-shooting humanoid robots fighting on the front lines are becoming less of a dystopian fantasy.—
Rachyl Jones,
semafor.com,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Traveling over five times the speed of sound generates immense friction and drag, resulting in the leading edges reaching temperatures beyond 1,650 °C (3,000 °F).—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
2 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Placing cutting edges along the handle might seem like a risky design choice.—
Maryna Holovnova,
New Atlas,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Sharpen mower blades when the cutting edges begin to dull.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Vans.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vans. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
