(of a government)
to demand a tax from (a person, business, etc.).
to demand a tax in consideration of the possession or occurrence of (income, goods, sales, etc.), usually in proportion to the value of money involved.
to lay a burden on; make serious demands on.
to tax one's resources.
to take to task; censure; reprove; accuse.
to tax one with laziness.
Informal. to charge.
What did he tax you for that?
Archaic. to estimate or determine the amount or value of.
a compulsory financial contribution imposed by a government to raise revenue, levied on the income or property of persons or organizations, on the production costs or sales prices of goods and services, etc
a heavy demand on something; strain
a tax on our resources
to levy a tax on (persons, companies, etc, or their incomes, etc)
to make heavy demands on; strain
to tax one's intellect
to accuse, charge, or blame
he was taxed with the crime
to determine (the amount legally chargeable or allowable to a party to a legal action), as by examining the solicitor's bill of costs
to tax costs
slang to steal
First recorded in 1250–1300; (for the verb) Middle English taxen, from Medieval Latin taxāre, from Latin: “to appraise, charge, estimate,” literally, “to touch repeatedly,” from tangere “to touch”; noun derivative of the verb
A charge or fee that a government imposes on a citizen or business is called a tax. Taxes help to pay for the services people (and businesses) receive from the government. There are many different kinds of taxes—on purchases, property, and income, for example—but all tax money is meant to pay for things that benefit people in society. For example, in many places schools, road repairs, fire departments, and health care for elderly and disabled people are all paid for with money from taxes. As a verb, tax can either mean "impose a tax on" or "put a strain or burden on."
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Supporters of a half-cent sales tax proposed to help fund health services in Los Angeles County declared victory Tuesday after days of steadily gaining ground as more ballots were counted.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026
However, transfers can have unintended consequences, including Medicaid penalties and tax implications, so make sure you seek out legal counsel before you make any sudden moves.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 10, 2026
But landlords point to the heavy tax burden on a British pint.
From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026
It structured a sale in 2021 as a buyback, whereby L’Oréal purchased and then canceled shares, meaning Nestlé didn’t have to pay capital-gains tax on the transaction.
From Barron's • Jun. 10, 2026
Doors were opening up and down the hallway: an insurance agent, the tax assessor, a dentist in a white coat, all poking their heads out to see what the fuss was about.
From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
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.
