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• levant
  levant

  verb (used without object)

  to leave secretly or hurriedly to avoid paying debts.
• Levant
  Levant

  noun

  the lands bordering the eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea.

levant

¹ American  

[li-vant] / lɪˈvænt /

verb (used without object)

British Slang.

1. to leave secretly or hurriedly to avoid paying debts.

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Levant ² American  

[li-vant] / lɪˈvænt /

noun

1. the lands bordering the eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea.

2. Also called Levant morocco.  a superior grade of morocco leather having a large and prominent grain, originally made in the Levant.

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levant ¹ British  

/ lɪˈvænt /

verb

1. (intr) to bolt or abscond, esp to avoid paying debts

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levant ² British  

/ lɪˈvænt /

noun

1. a type of leather made from the skins of goats, sheep, or seals, having a pattern of irregular creases

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Levant ³ British  

/ lɪˈvænt /

noun

1. a former name for the area of the E Mediterranean now occupied by Lebanon, Syria, and Israel

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Levant Cultural  

1. Name for the nations on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea: Cyprus, Egypt (see also Egypt), Israel, Lebanon, Syria, and Turkey.

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Other Word Forms

• levanter
  noun

Etymology

Origin of levant¹

1750–60; perhaps < Spanish levantar to lift (Compare levantar el campo to break camp, leave), frequentative of levar < Latin levāre

Origin of Levant²

1490–1500; earlier levaunt < Middle French levant, noun use (with reference to rising sun) of present participle of lever to raise ( se lever to rise). See lever

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

levant Levant

Folio, brown levant morocco, uncut edges, by The Club Bindery.

From A Catalogue of Books in English Later than 1700 (Vol 1 of 3) Forming a portion of the library of Robert Hoe by Various

Royal 8vo, two volumes, green levant morocco, gilt back, gilt top, uncut edges, by David.

From A Catalogue of Books in English Later than 1700 (Vol 1 of 3) Forming a portion of the library of Robert Hoe by Various

At bed or board, couchant or levant, we must pay.

From Sketches of Reforms and Reformers, of Great Britain and Ireland by Henry B. Stanton

Post 8vo, green levant morocco, gilt back, wide side borders of interlacing fillets and foliage, doubled with green morocco, green silk guard, gilt top, uncut edges, by The Club Bindery.

From A Catalogue of Books in English Later than 1700 (Vol 1 of 3) Forming a portion of the library of Robert Hoe by Various

Royal 8vo, three volumes, half brown levant morocco, gilt back, gilt top, uncut edges, by Zaehnsdorf.

From A Catalogue of Books in English Later than 1700 (Vol 1 of 3) Forming a portion of the library of Robert Hoe by Various

“This is not a Republican issue or a Democrat issue,” Levant said in his opening testimony.

From Barron's ● May 20, 2026

He starred in a middling revival of the musical “Promises, Promises,” and won a Tony for playing Oscar Levant in “Good Night, Oscar”—despite being flagrantly miscast, in my view.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 13, 2026

Centered in Persia, that empire at its peak included Egypt, Mesopotamia, the Levant, Anatolia, and parts of Eastern Arabia and Central Asia.

From Science Daily ● Dec. 18, 2025

“Christians of the Levant, citizens of these lands in every respect, I repeat: have courage! The whole Church looks to you with affection and admiration.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 2, 2025

Levant shook his head and put the magazine on the floor.

From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson