1
a
: a usually enclosed wagon or motortruck used for transportation of goods or animals
also
: caravan sense 2a
b
: a multipurpose enclosed motor vehicle having a boxlike shape, rear or side doors, and side panels often with windows
c
: a detachable passenger cabin transportable by aircraft or truck
2
chiefly British
: an enclosed railroad freight or baggage car
1
dialectal, England
: a winnowing device (such as a fan)
2
Synonyms
Examples of van in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Claire Harbage, NPR, 4 Apr. 2024
Before the first wave of drivers loaded their vans, a second series of vans drove uniformly into the bay, parking one after another in rows of four in a launch pad dubbed bravo, like the phonetic alphabet used by the military.
—Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 3 Apr. 2024
He was detained by the Civil Guard’s Central Operative Unit (UCO) on the runway before being driven away in a van.
—Pau Mosquera, CNN, 3 Apr. 2024
The boy’s mother chased after them as the man tried to get away in a van, according to deputies.
—Tanasia Kenney, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2024
The drivers would circle Koreatown, piloting a van filled with party girls.
—Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2024
Small businesses were able to receive up to £21,000 to scrap as many as three vans.
—Joe Mayes, Fortune Europe, 26 Mar. 2024
The Willis' minivan ran over the bracket and exploded in flames, killing the six children.
March 26, 2002 (Jefferson County): 6 people killed
A retirement home bus carrying more than 20 people crashed with a van on state Highway 16, 30 miles west of Milwaukee, according to previous media reports.
—Alex Groth, Journal Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2024
Art loaded up one of Frank’s vans with paintings and drove straight from Chicago to Miami.
—Jason Kersten, Rolling Stone, 23 Mar. 2024
Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Mar. 2024
This little Sundance-darling-that-could is as quirky and charming as the yellow Volkswagon van the Hoovers use for their road trip to California.
—Andrew Walsh, EW.com, 27 Nov. 2023
Natalee Holloway's Mom Reveals How Joran van der Sloot Killed Her Daughter in 2005 (Exclusive)
Van der Sloot, 36, was temporarily extradited to Alabama in June to face extortion and wire fraud charges in a case connected to Natalee’s 2005 disappearance.
—Emily Palmer, Peoplemag, 31 Oct. 2023
Noun
The men have already loaded up their van with bottled water.
—Claire Harbage, NPR, 4 Apr. 2024
Before the first wave of drivers loaded their vans, a second series of vans drove uniformly into the bay, parking one after another in rows of four in a launch pad dubbed bravo, like the phonetic alphabet used by the military.
—Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 3 Apr. 2024
He was detained by the Civil Guard’s Central Operative Unit (UCO) on the runway before being driven away in a van.
—Pau Mosquera, CNN, 3 Apr. 2024
The boy’s mother chased after them as the man tried to get away in a van, according to deputies.
—Tanasia Kenney, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2024
The drivers would circle Koreatown, piloting a van filled with party girls.
—Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2024
Small businesses were able to receive up to £21,000 to scrap as many as three vans.
—Joe Mayes, Fortune Europe, 26 Mar. 2024
The Willis' minivan ran over the bracket and exploded in flames, killing the six children.
March 26, 2002 (Jefferson County): 6 people killed
A retirement home bus carrying more than 20 people crashed with a van on state Highway 16, 30 miles west of Milwaukee, according to previous media reports.
—Alex Groth, Journal Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2024
Art loaded up one of Frank’s vans with paintings and drove straight from Chicago to Miami.
—Jason Kersten, Rolling Stone, 23 Mar. 2024
Verb
Many Del Mar trainers stable and train their horses at San Luis Rey Downs, which can handle up to 500 horses, and van them to the track for races.
—Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Mar. 2024
This little Sundance-darling-that-could is as quirky and charming as the yellow Volkswagon van the Hoovers use for their road trip to California.
—Andrew Walsh, EW.com, 27 Nov. 2023
Natalee Holloway's Mom Reveals How Joran van der Sloot Killed Her Daughter in 2005 (Exclusive)
Van der Sloot, 36, was temporarily extradited to Alabama in June to face extortion and wire fraud charges in a case connected to Natalee’s 2005 disappearance.
—Emily Palmer, Peoplemag, 31 Oct. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'van.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Van.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/van. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
van
2 of 2 noun1
: a usually closed wagon or truck for transporting goods or animals
2
: an enclosed motor vehicle shaped like a box that is used for a variety of purposes and has rear or side doors and side panels often with windows
Etymology
Noun
a shortened form of vanguard
Noun
a shortened form of caravan "vehicle"
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