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
The commercial vehicles arm of Geely, Farizon Auto has a full lineup of vans alongside heavy- and light-duty trucks and buses.
—
New Atlas, 30 Mar. 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
The California startup already builds custom electric delivery vans for Amazon and has a joint venture with Volkswagen to provide software and vehicle electrical architecture.
—Morgan Korn, ABC News, 22 Mar. 2026
The problem is compounded by construction blocking portions of the lanes and delivery vans navigating around barrels to park.
—Larry Seward, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
With a roster of 550 cars on launch day, any inroads to a better experience for builders must map onto a massive variety of vehicles, from tiny kei vans to burly off-roaders.
—Adam Ismail, The Drive, 19 Mar. 2026
Media outlets pull up stakes Indeed, the seemingly endless lines of cars and news vans parked outside Guthrie’s home during the early days of the investigation are gone, replaced by orange cones along the road shoulder.
—Celina Tebor, CNN Money, 19 Mar. 2026
The old vans rattled with every vibration of the motor, and the air smelled of diesel fumes.
—Literary Hub, 16 Mar. 2026
New Atlas, 30 Mar. 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
The California startup already builds custom electric delivery vans for Amazon and has a joint venture with Volkswagen to provide software and vehicle electrical architecture.
—Morgan Korn, ABC News, 22 Mar. 2026
The problem is compounded by construction blocking portions of the lanes and delivery vans navigating around barrels to park.
—Larry Seward, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
With a roster of 550 cars on launch day, any inroads to a better experience for builders must map onto a massive variety of vehicles, from tiny kei vans to burly off-roaders.
—Adam Ismail, The Drive, 19 Mar. 2026
Media outlets pull up stakes Indeed, the seemingly endless lines of cars and news vans parked outside Guthrie’s home during the early days of the investigation are gone, replaced by orange cones along the road shoulder.
—Celina Tebor, CNN Money, 19 Mar. 2026
The old vans rattled with every vibration of the motor, and the air smelled of diesel fumes.
—Literary Hub, 16 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
-
After a stint at Camp Hansen in Okinawa, he was dispatched to the Vietnam front lines in 1966.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
29 Mar. 2026
-
On the year, Boozer has been particularly effective as a facilitator against elite front lines.—
Tyler Everett,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Mar. 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
-
Sharpen mower blades when the cutting edges begin to dull.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 Mar. 2026
-
So it was decreed that the cutting edges of knives should be turned towards their owners, thus symbolizing their peaceful intent.—
Judith Martin,
Sun Sentinel,
5 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Vans.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vans. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
