name

Pavlov

Pavlov (name) means a Russian surname, most famously borne by physiologist Ivan Pavlov. Example: “Pavlov is best known for his experiments on conditioned reflexes in dogs.”

name

A Russian surname, most famously borne by physiologist Ivan Pavlov.

"Pavlov is best known for his experiments on conditioned reflexes in dogs."

verb

(informal, from the surname) To train someone or something to react automatically to a cue, without regard to its actual meaning.

"Years of notification sounds had pavloved him into checking his phone."

How to use Pavlov

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe name behind "Pavlovian" conditioning — training an automatic response to a signal.

Word forms

Pavloved past tense, Pavlov'd past tense, Pavlovs plural, Pavlovs singular

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_____ is best known for his experiments on conditioned reflexes in dogs.

Etymology

From the Russian surname Pávlov, itself derived from the given name Pável (Paul).

Origin: Russian

Frequently asked questions

What does “Pavlov” mean?

The word “Pavlov” means a Russian surname, most famously borne by physiologist Ivan Pavlov. In plain terms, the name behind "Pavlovian" conditioning — training an automatic response to a signal.

How do you use “Pavlov” in a sentence?

Here is “Pavlov” used in a sentence: “Pavlov is best known for his experiments on conditioned reflexes in dogs.”

What part of speech is “Pavlov”?

Depending on how it is used, “Pavlov” can be a name and a verb.

Where does the word “Pavlov” come from?

The word “Pavlov” comes from Russian. From the Russian surname Pávlov, itself derived from the given name Pável (Paul).

How many meanings does “Pavlov” have?

“Pavlov” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a Russian surname, most famously borne by physiologist Ivan Pavlov.

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Vocabulary lists that include Pavlov:

Words with slavic origins Words that end with V