ivan

[ee-vahn]

noun

iwan.

Ivan

[ahy-vuh n; Russian ee-vahn]

noun

a male given name, Russian form of John.

Ivan III

noun

Ivan the Great, 1440–1505, grand duke of Muscovy 1462–1505.

Ivan IV

noun

Ivan the Terrible, 1530–84, first czar of Russia 1547–84.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for ivan

Contemporary Examples of ivan

Draft Day, his Ivan Reitman-directed film about the NFL draft, grossed just $28 million at the domestic box office.
The Biggest Bombs of 2014: ‘Sex Tape,’ Mariah Carey’s Vocals, ‘How I Met Your Mother’ and More
Kevin Fallon
December 19, 2014
At the head of this five-mile convoy was Ivan Smith, a 22-year-old Rhodesian.
‘Argo’ in the Congo: The Ghosts of the Stanleyville Hostage Crisis
Nina Strochlic
November 23, 2014
Ivan Raimi and Scott Spiegel, who were collaborators with Sam, lived there.
Frances McDormand on 'Olive Kitteridge,' Dropping LSD, and Her Beef With FX's 'Fargo'
Marlow Stern
September 3, 2014
“Every dollar I spend is a vote,” said Ivan Pardo, the founder of Buycott.
The Awful Apps That Let You Vote With Your Wallet
Tim Mak
August 22, 2014
Ivan opened the door for a lot of people to get back into it and I think we'll see if they stay with it.
Why Andy Murray Hired a Champion (and Woman) Coach
Kevin Fixler
June 20, 2014

Historical Examples of ivan

This Ivan is in our hands; let us send him to see why it is the sun grows so red when he sets.
Cossack Fairy Tales and Folk Tales
Anonymous
Presently Ivan mounted on to the haystack and began to play.
Cossack Fairy Tales and Folk Tales
Anonymous
Ivan sat down on the ground near to the threshold and began to play.
Cossack Fairy Tales and Folk Tales
Anonymous
At last he could endure it no longer, and bawled to Ivan to stop.
Cossack Fairy Tales and Folk Tales
Anonymous
So he took the hundred karbovantsya out of his satchel and gave them to Ivan.
Cossack Fairy Tales and Folk Tales
Anonymous

British Dictionary definitions for ivan

Ivan III

noun

known as Ivan the Great. 1440–1505, grand duke of Muscovy (1462–1505). He expanded Muscovy, defeated the Tatars (1480), and assumed the title of Ruler of all Russia (1472)

Ivan IV

noun

known as Ivan the Terrible. 1530–84, grand duke of Muscovy (1533–47) and first tsar of Russia (1547–84). He conquered Kazan (1552), Astrakhan (1556), and Siberia (1581), but was defeated by Poland in the Livonian War (1558–82) after which his rule became increasingly oppressive

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for ivan

Ivan

masc. proper name, from Russian, literally "John," from Greek Ioannes "John." As the personification of Russia, or the typical name for a Russian man (originally a Russian soldier), attested from 1870.