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

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 Carroll indicated that there were about seven or eight National Guard members in a van who exited the vehicle due to the fight. — Alex Nitzberg, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026 Patterson would take his young son on camping trips in a VW van into the mountains of Northern California, on the lookout for Bigfoot. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 18 Oct. 2026 In November 2013, Simonson, who struggled with mental health issues following the death of her 13-year-old daughter Alyssa earlier that year, abandoned her van in her mother's driveway. — ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026 Now, 12 colorful vans deliver thousands of 10-pound boxes of produce to more than 180 zip codes across the Chicago metro area every week. — Kathleen Toner, CNN Money, 16 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
  • Hamilton’s church, the Church of the Resurrection, was at the forefront of making the Methodist church more inclusive of LGBTQ congregants, but many churches also supported the change.
    — Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The best memories can sometimes come to the forefront, but Jay’s first memories of his dad are really tragic ones.
    — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of forefront
Noun
  • His mother had belonged to the Irgun, the Jewish underground that fought British rule before Israel’s founding, but his parents were, by all accounts, not ideological zealots.
    — Eric Cortellessa, Time, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Storing heat underground uses the same principle, though in reverse.
    — Moones Alamooti, The Conversation, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of underground
Noun
  • In a statement sent to The Charlotte Observer, her daughter Hatiya Dunlap said Leeper was a multifaceted broadcasting pioneer whose lasting legacy extends far beyond her on-air work.
    — Chase Jordan October 20, Charlotte Observer, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Founded in 1986 in Guadalajara, Mexico, Maná is considered a pioneer of rock en español.
    — Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 20 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 27 Oct. 2026.

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