van

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

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 van The driver of the Sprinter van was hospitalized in critical condition, authorities said. Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 15 May 2025 Police officers put up a barricade at the end of the block once other news vans started showing up. Lizz Schumer, People.com, 14 May 2025 The duo created 12 campsites along the perimeter of the hop trellises that can accommodate tents, cars, and vans. Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 13 May 2025 The funky and futuristic van has peaked the interest of auto enthusiasts worldwide because of its unique design. Charles Singh, USA Today, 7 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for van
Recent Examples of Synonyms for van
Noun
  • How Johnson, who has tried to position himself as part of the progressive vanguard against Trump in urban America, responds to these threats will define much of his next two years in office.
    Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 19 May 2025
  • Despite the oracular hubris of the genetic-screening vanguard, the story a parent wants has only one primary source, one reliable narrator.
    Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The Path Forward The aviation industry has always been at the forefront of technological innovation.
    Stoyan Mitov, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
  • Notably, accessibility and aging is at the forefront of its place design.
    Elizabeth Stamp, Architectural Digest, 29 May 2025
Noun
  • The thriller follows a streetwise chess prodigy pulled into a brutal underground circuit where every match is a deadly gamble.
    Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 15 May 2025
  • However, remember that this will not remove the fungi underground, just the visible mushrooms.
    Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 11 May 2025
Noun
  • Consistent with his other boutiques, the space’s interior incorporates marble and terrazzo, paired with furnishings by celebrated artists like French Art Deco pioneer Jacques Adnet, American designer Edward Wormley and American woodworker and architect George Nakashima.
    Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 30 May 2025
  • The film explores transgender identity and legacy, chronicling the divergent paths of iconic pioneers April Ashley, Amanda Lear and others.
    Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 30 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Van.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/van. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

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