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:
The new levy -- coming just weeks before the Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Christmas season shopping rushes -- will be on top of the EU's three-euro fee on small parcels.
From Barron's ● Nov. 1, 2026
The two-euro handling fee is a permanent levy but the three-euro duty on low-value packages is a temporary measure in place until July 1, 2028.
From Barron's ● Nov. 1, 2026
In addition to the new levy, trading restrictions on Russian metal and the Iran War, which choked off Persian Gulf exports, have contributed to global price increases.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026
The measure would levy an annual parcel tax in Pasadena of 19 cents per square foot of improved property, with exemptions for low-income homeowners.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 26, 2026
Cob predicted a third levy tax after the harvests were in.
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
The original cast, several of whom had been in the celebrated 1972 Toronto production of “Godspell,” were John Candy, Andrea Martin, Catherine O’Hara, Eugene Levy, Joe Flaherty and Dave Thomas.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026
Investor interest was recently piqued when Barclays analyst Dan Levy said in an Oct.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 20, 2026
A potential Tesla–SpaceX merger has generated a lot of speculation, with Barclays analyst Dan Levy recently suggesting that it’s almost a done deal.
From Slate ● Oct. 19, 2026
Now, the most recent monologue has drawn criticism from not just media pundits and social media influencers, but also celebrities, including Dan Levy, and more significantly, from people within the “SNL” family.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 15, 2026
“You must be leaving home too early,” Mr. Levy would say.
From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole
He's also arguing for increased levies on banks in the Budget, to contribute towards the cost of help on the cost of living.
From BBC ● Oct. 26, 2026
Economists at the New York Federal Reserve have found that these levies have inflicted a heavy hit on many common consumer goods.
From Salon ● Oct. 25, 2026
U.S. tariffs on Mexican automobiles stand at 25%, but companies can earn rebates from the levies based on the value of U.S.-made car components.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026
Measure ULA, which took effect in 2023, levies a 4% transfer tax on all L.A. property sales above $5.4 million and a 5.5% tax on sales above $10.9 million.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
They talked about merchants, and deserters, and levies, and not enough salt to last the winter.
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
There is uncertainty and disagreement about how the tax would be levied on sports team owners, and how their ownership stakes would be evaluated by the state when assessing their assets.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 31, 2026
They’re more commonly levied on older buildings and communities with shrinking financial reserves, according to Vantaca, an HOA-management platform that works with property-management companies.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 18, 2026
Prosecutors unveiled the indictment in early 2019, and Washington slapped a first round of sanctions on Huawei after the charges were levied.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026
It follows changes to the tariffs levied on foreign steel, external which meant imported products are subject to quotas, with some products being subject to taxes, making them more expensive.
From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026
The taxes he levied would help him finance future campaigns to expand his territory and increase his power.
From "Sterling Biographies®: Cleopatra: Egypt's Last and Greatest Queen" by Susan Blackaby
A California judge turned down a petition to halt surcharges home insurers have been levying policyholders statewide for costs related to the January 2025 wildfires in L.A.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 20, 2026
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
The measure would prohibit any state from levying taxes retroactively on individuals who no longer live there.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 18, 2026
He had only ten men in the village when the incident occurred; the rest were absent, levying toll on Imbono's other villages a few miles distant.
From Samba A Story of the Rubber Slaves of the Congo by Herbert Strang
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