1
as in vanguard
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 forefront
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
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Recent Examples of van
The queue for vans was growing.
—
Jane Bua, New Yorker, 14 May 2026
Eligible customers who apply and are approved can schedule rides in wheelchair-accessible vans within nine transit zones, including Arden-Carmichael and Elk Grove.
—Madison Smalstig, Sacbee.com, 14 May 2026
Investigators on Wednesday loaded a tarp containing evidence into a van that drove to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 May 2026
These trunks are larger than a 15-passenger van and used for storage.
—Matthew Ray, The Conversation, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for van
Jane Bua, New Yorker, 14 May 2026
Eligible customers who apply and are approved can schedule rides in wheelchair-accessible vans within nine transit zones, including Arden-Carmichael and Elk Grove.
—Madison Smalstig, Sacbee.com, 14 May 2026
Investigators on Wednesday loaded a tarp containing evidence into a van that drove to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 May 2026
These trunks are larger than a 15-passenger van and used for storage.
—Matthew Ray, The Conversation, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for van
Recent Examples of Synonyms for van
Noun
-
Hekt’s debut album heralds a union between the left-field pop scene of his native Copenhagen and the influential Glasgow label Numbers, whose formidable run of 2010s releases—including several landmark SOPHIE singles—has left a neon imprint on the new Danish vanguard.—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
1 May 2026
-
Yes, Barcelona comes across normally as a cool place, a vanguard city which everybody wants to visit.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Producers Pippa Harris and Danny Perkins‘ journey to adapting Enid Blyton’s classic The Magic Faraway Tree Series was at the forefront of this trend.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
14 May 2026
-
Weightless drama brings sheer layers and kinetic textures to the forefront with drama by utilizing delicate trims and soft frill details.—
Kanika Talwar,
Footwear News,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
Though many people come to far West Texas for its isolation—the Unabomber’s slightly less reclusive brother did a stint here in the eighties, living at first in a crude underground shelter—Miller said that immigration-enforcement agents have been an intrusive presence for many years.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
-
The Warsaw Rising Museum illustrates the plight of the Polish underground and the 63-day-long resistance against the German occupation.—
Kasia Dietz,
Travel + Leisure,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
Across the cage stood MMA pioneer Gina Carano, the original mainstream face of women’s MMA and the opponent fans spent years fantasy-booking against Rousey during the peak of both careers.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
17 May 2026
-
Ben Johnson’s Bears are pioneers in the field of loopy comebacks.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
16 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Van.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/van. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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