vans

plural of van
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

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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

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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 While not a camper itself, the Elevance SUV does employ the type of 180-degree front seats common in camper vans and larger motorhomes. New Atlas, 29 Oct. 2025 Fifarek said the new vans will target students who need to travel 15 to 20 miles to get to school. Kayla Huynh, jsonline.com, 28 Oct. 2025 Most notably, the Type 2 micro-vans were the transportation choice for the masses en route to the Woodstock music festival in New York in 1969. James Raia, Mercury News, 26 Oct. 2025 The Detroit automaker allocated the electric commercial vans into its Chevrolet brand last year in a bid to boost its performance as GM tries to gain ground against competitors, including Ford and Rivian, in the market. Jackie Charniga, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025 The problem is especially pressing with lithium iron phosphate batteries, the kind most commonly used in EVs, E-delivery vans, and E-buses. Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2025 The campground’s Cottontail Curl loop, which is composed of tents and pop-up camper vans, was listed as the exact location of the alleged incident. Rachel McRady, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025 The Detroit automaker allocated the electric commercial vans into its Chevrolet brand last year in a bid to boost its performance as GM tries to gain ground against competitors, including Ford and Rivian, in the market. Jackie Charniga, Freep.com, 21 Oct. 2025 Certain vehicles are excluded from coverage, including antique cars, cargo vans, trucks, motorcycles, RVs and others. Ryley Amond, CNBC, 18 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vans
Noun
  • The San Francisco 49ers, vanguards of the outside zone run game, cannot run the ball.
    Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 15 Oct. 2025
  • He’s so far collaborated with acts like Ecco2k and Xaviersobased, themselves vanguards of the underground-rap scene.
    Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The drama was about a war correspondent on the front lines of Afghanistan.
    Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Trump has called for an immediate stop to the fighting along current front lines, which Moscow has rejected.
    Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Vans.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vans. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.

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