in the van

in the van of (something)

At the forefront of something. The lieutenant who was in the van of the assault, leading a small party of machine-gunners to clear a path for the rest of the infantry. The senator had been in the van of the movement to equalize pay for all citizens since the late 1960s.See also: of, van

in the ˈvan

(British English, formal) at the front or in the leading position: The eight warships in the van opened fire on the advancing fleet.See also: van