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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The American Revolution - Introductory
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
This Week in Words: March 16–22, 2019
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
Texas doesn’t levy corporate income or personal income taxes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026
A single levy for developers would be implemented in place of section 106 agreements and the Community Infrastructure Levy, which fund projects in the community when building plans are progressed.
From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2026
Ethics Commission can levy fines of up to $15,000 or three times the amount of money at issue.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
The Welsh government said the legislation allowed for decisions to be taken at a local level, with councils able to introduce the levy "to support investment in tourism services and facilities".
From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2026
So despite the third levy tax looming large in everyone’s minds, people were looking in their purses and wishing they’d bought a little something, just in case the snow came early.
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
A single levy for developers would be implemented in place of section 106 agreements and the Community Infrastructure Levy, which fund projects in the community when building plans are progressed.
From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2026
“The K-shaped M&A market we noted back in January is intensifying,” PwC’s global deals industries leader Brian Levy wrote in September.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026
“There aren’t a lot of people who can carry a half-hour on their own, unscripted,” Sheindlin continued, adding that Levy has what it takes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 12, 2026
Other speakers at the memorial service include Alan Levy, who helped barricade the doors against the attacker, and Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson.
From BBC ● Aug. 31, 2026
Levy Pants must become more militant and authoritarian in order to survive in the jungle of modem commercialism.
From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole
Ireland recommended hiking some of the levies but stuck more or less to the commission's original lines, saying the measures it was putting forward would raise 55 billion euros a year.
From Barron's ● Oct. 10, 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
Calls have grown for these levies to be extended to hybrid vehicles, which combine electric motors and internal combustion engines.
From Barron's ● Sep. 17, 2026
No projects had yet emerged, drawing ire from U.S. officials, including Trump, who in January threatened to raise levies on South Korea again.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026
The chaos that would inevitably have delayed such a march with a hastily assembled host of household knights and local levies had been nowhere in evidence.
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
The allegations against Ross raised in the affidavit appear to align with claims his ex-girlfriend, influencer Jazzma Kendrick, levied against the rapper.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
While accusations of AI writing have been levied at other novels, Orélien’s book is the most celebrated literary example to date.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 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
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
This was the moment I had lost Audrey: this was the moment the costs had become real, when the tax was levied, the rent due.
From "Educated" by Tara Westover
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
It would prohibit any state from levying taxes retroactively on people who no longer live there.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 2, 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 contradicts her account at times, levying fresh accusations.
From BBC ● Oct. 24, 2025
Mr. President, so far as a tariff has the effect of reducing prices in any country, it is not by reason of the levying of any certain percentage of duty on the imported goods.
From Money: Speech of Hon. John P. Jones, of Nevada, On the Free Coinage of Silver; in the United States Senate, May 12 and 13, 1890 by John P. (John Percival) Jones
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.
