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 a superior grade of morocco leather having a large and prominent grain, originally made in the Levant.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

Small 4to, blue levant morocco, gilt back, gilt top, uncut edges, by Stikeman.

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

When the skin has been subjected to pressure until the surface is smooth it is known as "crushed levant."

From Library Bookbinding by Arthur Low Bailey

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

M.DCC.XCIII. 8vo, two volumes, red levant morocco, gilt back, gilt top, uncut edges, by Rivière.

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

Post 8vo, three volumes, half maroon levant morocco, gilt top, uncut edges, by V. Krafft.

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

When I was 1, my mother moved us to Île du Levant, an island off France’s southern coast.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026

“Timed to one of baseball’s most storied rivalries, the collection brings KAWS’ distinctive visual language to the diamond,” said Aaron Levant, chief executive of Complex.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026

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

From Barron's ● May 20, 2026

Historical accounts describe widespread crop failures and famine during this period in Spain, southern France, northern and central Italy, Egypt, and the Levant.

From Science Daily ● Dec. 8, 2025

“There’s a guy shorthands all the radio transmissions,” Levant explained to him.

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