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
Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 26 Apr. 2024
Those included a last-minute deal to allow New York City to lower its speed limit, a measure named Sammy’s Law for a young boy killed outside his home in Brooklyn by a van.
—Grace Ashford, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2024
West said the movie brought $100,000 to the region in terms of hotels, local hires, van rentals and catering.
—Hanh Truong, Sacramento Bee, 18 Apr. 2024
Wheelchair Travel compiles accessible travel resources, including rentals for wheelchair vans and medical equipment, and publishes wheelchair-friendly city guides.
—Ashlea Halpern, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Apr. 2024
Other telltale signs included shuttered windows and complaints from neighbors about pungent smells and suspicious vans coming and going.
—Nicole Sganga, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2024
The driver attempted to stop the van but was unsuccessful.
—Drake Bentley, Journal Sentinel, 15 Apr. 2024
Perun continued to work there, regularly crossing separatist checkpoints in a van loaded with doors and welding equipment.
—Luke Mogelson, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
At least some of the individuals arrested were loaded into a Kansas City police van.
—Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 15 Apr. 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 action begins in a van, naturally, where the women blow bubble gum bubbles and weave friendship bracelets as the summery, hang-loose track builds.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 26 Apr. 2024
Those included a last-minute deal to allow New York City to lower its speed limit, a measure named Sammy’s Law for a young boy killed outside his home in Brooklyn by a van.
—Grace Ashford, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2024
West said the movie brought $100,000 to the region in terms of hotels, local hires, van rentals and catering.
—Hanh Truong, Sacramento Bee, 18 Apr. 2024
Wheelchair Travel compiles accessible travel resources, including rentals for wheelchair vans and medical equipment, and publishes wheelchair-friendly city guides.
—Ashlea Halpern, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Apr. 2024
Other telltale signs included shuttered windows and complaints from neighbors about pungent smells and suspicious vans coming and going.
—Nicole Sganga, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2024
The driver attempted to stop the van but was unsuccessful.
—Drake Bentley, Journal Sentinel, 15 Apr. 2024
Perun continued to work there, regularly crossing separatist checkpoints in a van loaded with doors and welding equipment.
—Luke Mogelson, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
At least some of the individuals arrested were loaded into a Kansas City police van.
—Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 15 Apr. 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 2 May. 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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