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
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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
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of van
Authorities launched a search for Cesar M. Hernandez Monday morning after the murder convict escaped from a prison van.
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Brian Day, USA TODAY, 4 Dec. 2024
To meet the current goal, 28% of new cars and 16% of new vans sold in 2025 must be zero-emission.
—Abby Wilson, theweek, 28 Nov. 2024
In 2024, EVs need to make up 22% of automakers’ car sales and 10% of van sales in the U.K.
—Byryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 27 Nov. 2024
Troopers responded to a business on Providence Turnpike in Brooklyn around 5:20 a.m. on the report of an active larceny involving individuals in a white van with New Jersey license plates allegedly taking cooking oil from local restaurants, according to Connecticut State Police.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 27 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for van 
Brian Day, USA TODAY, 4 Dec. 2024
To meet the current goal, 28% of new cars and 16% of new vans sold in 2025 must be zero-emission.
—Abby Wilson, theweek, 28 Nov. 2024
In 2024, EVs need to make up 22% of automakers’ car sales and 10% of van sales in the U.K.
—Byryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 27 Nov. 2024
Troopers responded to a business on Providence Turnpike in Brooklyn around 5:20 a.m. on the report of an active larceny involving individuals in a white van with New Jersey license plates allegedly taking cooking oil from local restaurants, according to Connecticut State Police.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 27 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for van
Recent Examples of Synonyms for van
Noun
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One of those vanguards is Rudy Fraser, a 30-year-old New York technologist with a background in enterprise IT and community organizing.Jason Parham, WIRED, 13 Dec. 2024
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But big insurance companies today are typically far removed from the technological vanguard.IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 22 June 2017
Noun
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His efforts have created billions of dollars of economic impact and placed him at the forefront of some of the most groundbreaking projects in TV/Film production history.Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2024
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Leaders can consider investing in digital infrastructure and position themselves at the forefront of industry innovation.Dr Chibuzor Uwadi, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024
Noun
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During the call, my dad reminisced about his childhood on an Air Force base in New Mexico, where everyone would gather overnight in a vast underground bunker during fallout drills.Jonah Walters, Longreads, 24 Oct. 2024
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Even before the country’s founding in 1948, the Zionist underground movement assassinated British military officers and police, seeing them as obstacles to creating a Jewish state.Dan De Luce, NBC News, 20 Sep. 2024
Noun
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As a pioneer in personal branding and expert in virtual communication, William Arruda empowers professionals to shine online.William Arruda, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024
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Test yourself on holiday tunes, festive flora and plane pioneers in this week's American Culture Quiz.Fox News Staff, Fox News, 6 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Van.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/van. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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