levy
noun
an imposing or collecting, as of a tax, by authority or force.
levy
1 American
[lev-ee]
/ ˈlɛv i /
noun
-
levies
plural
-
an imposing or collecting, as of a tax, by authority or force.
-
the amount owed or collected.
-
the conscription of troops.
-
the troops conscripted.
verb (used with object)
-
levies,
present (3rd person singular)
-
levied,
past participle, past
-
levying
present participle
verb (used without object)
-
levies,
present (3rd person singular)
-
levied,
past participle, past
-
levying
present participle
Levy
2
American
[lee-vee, lev-ee, lee-vee, -vahy]
/ ˈli vi, ˈlɛv i, ˈli vi, -vaɪ /
noun
-
Uriah Phillips, 1792–1862, U.S. naval commander.
-
a male given name.
levy
British
/ ˈlɛvɪ /
verb
-
to impose and collect (a tax, tariff, fine, etc)
-
to conscript troops for service
-
to seize or attach (property) in accordance with the judgment of a court
noun
-
-
the act of imposing and collecting a tax, tariff, etc
-
the money so raised
-
-
-
the conscription of troops for service
-
a person conscripted in this way
-
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
levysimple
-
leviessimple
-
have leviedperfect
-
has leviedperfect
-
am levyingprogressive
-
are levyingprogressive
-
is levyingprogressive
-
have been levyingperfect progressive
-
has been levyingperfect progressive
Past
-
leviedsimple
-
had leviedperfect
-
was levyingprogressive
-
were levyingprogressive
-
had been levyingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of levy
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English leve(e), from Middle French, noun use of feminine past participle of lever “to raise,” from Latin levāre, akin to levis “light”; cf. levee 2
Explanation
Use the word levy as you would use the word tax: “When the state government imposed a levy on soft drinks, thousands of citizens took to the streets in protest.” The word levy can act as either a verb or a noun in a sentence. The noun levy refers to a charge, such as a tax, fine, or other fee, that is imposed on something. The verb levy is used to describe the act of imposing or collecting the charge. If you need to raise money, for example, you may decide to levy a fine on your family every time you have to make the coffee in the morning. (Be careful though: your family may also take to the streets in protest.)
Vocabulary lists containing levy
The Constitution of the United States
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The American Revolution - Introductory
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This Week in Words: March 16–22, 2019
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
A consultation on plans for a visitor levy closed in February and legislation is expected to be brought forward later this year.
From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2026
York and North Yorkshire's elected Labour mayor David Skaith said he believed a visitor levy "could be a total game-changer for us".
From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2026
In July, Lefevre's office said the levy would not apply to retailers such as H&M or Zara, prompting some to say that the measure appeared to spare European companies.
From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2026
Rod Fretwell, visiting Scarborough from his home in Bolton, said if the levy was being implemented nationally, he would support it.
From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2026
He'd returned from Rosby to deliver a fresh levy of spearmen recruited from Lord Cyles's estates and resume his command of the City Watch.
From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin
Similarly, Barclays analyst Dan Levy expects “limited incrementals” from the event, according to a recent note to clients.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 2, 2026
In a recent client note, Barclays analyst Dan Levy said that while he expects “limited incrementals” from Thursday’s event, Tesla’s showcases “often generate hype/momentum given the ‘meme’ nature of the stock.”
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 31, 2026
Barclays analyst Dan Levy said that Canadian production accounts for about 6% of U.S. auto sales, so a 50% tariff on vehicles is “likely manageable.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026
Director Shawn Levy and Ryan Gosling were on hand to discuss “Star Wars: Starfighter,” which will be set during a time period in the galaxy far, far away that has not yet been shown before.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 15, 2026
When Levy saw Wes, his face lit up.
From "The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates" by Wes Moore
Canada has responded to Washington's levies, saying it will implement "dollar for dollar" counter-tariffs.
From BBC ● Sep. 2, 2026
Copper that would normally sit across global markets is being loaded onto ships bound for U.S. ports and warehouses, allowing it to clear customs before new levies might take effect.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 27, 2026
While the scope of the trade war could widen with new tariffs, both economies likely can shoulder the burden of the current levies, at least for a time.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026
Canada said levies of 50% will affect steel and aluminum products that were previously subject to a 25% tariff, along with furniture and clothing.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026
"Lord Frey's levies have joined them. They are likely no more than a day's march north of us."
From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin
Most EU goods face a 10% tariff rate, while U.S. importers collect refunds on some €31 billion in unlawfully levied duties.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026
By contrast, canals such as Panama or Suez, which are man‑made waterways, may be subject to tolls levied by the states that control them.
From Barron's ● Jul. 21, 2026
OpenAI has denied the claims levied by iyO.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 10, 2026
The biggest fine levied against the GEO Group was for failure to establish and maintain “effective written procedures to reduce employee risk of exposure to aerosol transmissible disease.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026
A utilities committee levied one-cent fines on wasters of water and electricity.
From "Cheaper by the Dozen" by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey
From next year, Europe's biggest economy is set to join many other countries by levying a tax on sugary drinks in a bid to raise funds to support its under-pressure health system.
From Barron's ● Aug. 26, 2026
Lesley Horton, the UK's chief property ombudsman said that landlords should not be levying pet surcharges as this fell outside permitted fees for issues such as late payments or lost key replacements.
From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026
Jerry Brown signed into law, levying the state’s first gas tax increase in 23 years to fix California’s roads and bridges in disrepair.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 17, 2026
Hamas is increasingly levying taxes on all kinds of goods and services in Gaza, Arab and Israeli officials said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 10, 2026
Curio’s appeal to the people to prevent the levying of an army by Pompey was disregarded; whereupon, feeling himself in danger, he fled to Ravenna to Caesar.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 8 "Cube" to "Daguerre, Louis" by Various
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.
