van

noun

Definition of vannext
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

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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 In the other van, Gen cries tears of pride and fulfillment after Aesha and Nathan praise her performance in the last charter. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2026 More than 40,000 Rivian electric delivery vans were operating in Amazon’s network by 2026, up from more than 30,000 at the end of 2025. — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2026 Police had found a large quantity of gasoline inside three of the five vans seized during last Sunday’s arrests. — Carter Schroppe, The Washington Examiner, 5 Oct. 2026 That caused a collision with vehicles including a van carrying pilgrims, police said. — ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for van
Recent Examples of Synonyms for van
  1. vanguard
  2. forefront
  3. underground
  4. pioneer
Noun
  • The masthead means to identify vanguard critics, poets, and authors for a lively new readership.
    — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Madonna, host Snoop Dogg and this year’s video vanguard recipient Nirvana also have strong appeal to an older demo.
    — Paul Grein, Billboard, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of vanguard
Noun
  • But this is an album that’s apparently about the artist’s double life, and the questions that are bound to be at the forefront of any curious listener’s mind go unaddressed.
    — Daniel Bromfield, Pitchfork, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Lewis Perkins is the President of Apparel Impact Institute (Aii), an organization at the forefront of decarbonizing the apparel and footwear supply chain.
    — Lewis Perkins, Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of forefront
Noun
  • Storing heat underground uses the same principle, though in reverse.
    — Moones Alamooti, The Conversation, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Most Read Reviews Appropriately enough for two musicians working at the cutting edge of this underground, Bowery Electric’s Martha Schwendener and Lawrence Chandler met while working at pre-fab master Andy Warhol’s Interview magazine.
    — Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of underground
Noun
  • In 1966, healthcare advocacy pioneer Ruth Ravich founded the Department of Patient Representation at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York – widely considered the beginning of the patient advocate role.
    — Jennifer Schlinger, The Conversation, 6 Oct. 2026
  • For the milestone edition, streetwear pioneer Hiroshi Fujiwara and his Fragment Design label served as artistic directors alongside rapper Playboi Carti, shaping the festival’s products, programming and experiences.
    — Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of pioneer

Browse Nearby Words

vampy
van
vandal
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Cite this Entry

“Van.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/van. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on van

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about van

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