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:
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
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
A levy that looks small compared with an investor’s fortune can absorb most of what that fortune earns.
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
If they had, they might have notified their mother, who was hammering out a story on a proposed school levy and would not be home to watch the news—or to alert Mrs. McCullough.
From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng
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
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
Barclays analyst Dan Levy said in a client note that the merger could be announced before Tesla’s annual meeting, likely to be held in December.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 15, 2026
It was sadder than Mr. Levy had thought at first.
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
The levies included a $750 million civil money penalty from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency related to anti-money-laundering deficiencies.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026
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
"He offers him back to me without ransom, provided I withdraw my levies from His Grace and vow to fight no more."
From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin
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
The company’s imports from Vietnam face a 25% tariff, half the rate levied on Chinese products.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 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
As a government-appointed chief, he was eligible for a stipend as well as a portion of the fees the government levied on the community for vaccination of livestock and communal grazing land.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
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
Known for its bright-yellow planes with “Howdy” painted on the wing tips, Spirit was lauded for ratcheting up competition for travelers’ dollars—and reviled for levying charges on everything from water to printed boarding passes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 2, 2026
On merchant vessels they had become a nuisance, as the sailors often made them an opportunity for levying black mail on timid and nervous passengers.
From The Sea: Its Stirring Story of Adventure, Peril, & Heroism. Volume 1 by Frederick Whymper
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
