the lands bordering the eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea.
Also called Levant morocco. a superior grade of morocco leather having a large and prominent grain, originally made in the Levant.
1750–60; perhaps < Spanish levantar to lift (Compare levantar el campo to break camp, leave), frequentative of levar < Latin levāre
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“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
“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
A study of bones found at archaeological sites suggests cats began their close relationship with humans only a few thousand years ago, and in northern Africa not the Levant.
From BBC • Nov. 27, 2025
Evidence of such settlements has been discovered throughout the Middle East, particularly in the Levant, where the Natufian culture flourished from 12,500 BC to 9500 BC.
From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
