plural levies
1
a
: the imposition or collection of an assessment
The government imposed a levy on gasoline.
b
: an amount levied
2
a
: the enlistment or conscription of men for military service
b
: troops raised by levy
turned green levies into fighting soldiers
levied; levying
1
a
: to impose or collect by legal authority
levy a tax
b
: to require by authority
2
: to enlist or conscript for military service
3
: to carry on (war) : wage
: to seize property
levier
noun
Synonyms
Examples of levy in a Sentence
Noun
the legislators approved a new levy on imported cattle to help protect American ranchers
Verb
They levied a tax on imports.
The government will levy a fine on the company.
Recent Examples on the Web
Jenna Barackman, Kansas City Star, 17 Apr. 2024
Tesla has been lobbying New Delhi to lower import taxes on EVs for years, and finally got some leeway last month when the government reduced import levies on select EVs made by automakers under certain conditions.
—Morgan Haefner, Quartz, 12 Apr. 2024
California topped the list with the highest per-capita tax collections, according to the study, which tracked around 40 types of local and state tax collections and levies.
—The Arizona Republic, 6 Apr. 2024
But Hawkins told The Enquirer the district doesn't plan to ask for a levy soon.
—The Enquirer, 5 Apr. 2024
This referendum will increase the property tax levy by nearly 9% to fund additional firefighters, paramedics and police officers.
—Cathy Kozlowicz, Journal Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2024
That can include liens and levies (seizures of your property, including bank accounts).
—Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
This year, in a nod to the struggles of school districts, lawmakers passed a property tax bill that allocated funds for districts to pay off bonds and levies.
—Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 27 Mar. 2024
The measure also eliminates taxes on Social Security income, lowers the statewide mill levy for schools from 20 mills to 19.5 mils and accelerates the elimination of the state sales tax on food to July 1, six months ahead of current law.
—Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 10 Apr. 2024
Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Apr. 2024
Shortly before first pitch yesterday, the Brewers announced that no parking violations would be levied against patrons who experienced Opening Day connectivity issues and could not activate their parking passes.
—Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2024
The transfer tax, formally known as Measure ULA, levies a 4% charge on all property sales above $5 million and a 5.5% charge on sales above $10 million, with proceeds funding affordable housing and homelessness initiatives.
—Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2024
Some journal publishers could also see revenues fall if major funders refuse to pay the hefty article-processing charges (APCs) levied by some open-access journals.
—Byjeffrey Brainard, science.org, 1 Apr. 2024
The agreement comes after California Department of Education statutes levied a $39.8 million fine against the district for failing to meet the minimum minutes and days required of instruction during the 2021-22 school year.
—Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 22 Mar. 2024
Chinese officials have levied similar complaints against the Biden administration.
—Alan Rappeport, New York Times, 18 Apr. 2024
Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. and EU have levied sanctions on Russia’s biggest banks and its elite, frozen the assets of the country’s Central Bank located outside the country and excluded its financial institutions from the SWIFT bank messaging system.
—Fatima Hussein, Quartz, 12 Apr. 2024
Called a theme park district, the area would be overseen by a board that can issue bonds to pay for construction and levy a tax on transactions to repay the bonds.
—Stacey Barchenger, The Arizona Republic, 6 Apr. 2024
Noun
The package would also expedite the elimination of the state’s food sales tax by six months – ending the taxation by July 1 – eliminate income taxation on Social Security benefits and lower the mill levy for schools from 20 to 19.5 mills.
—Jenna Barackman, Kansas City Star, 17 Apr. 2024
Tesla has been lobbying New Delhi to lower import taxes on EVs for years, and finally got some leeway last month when the government reduced import levies on select EVs made by automakers under certain conditions.
—Morgan Haefner, Quartz, 12 Apr. 2024
California topped the list with the highest per-capita tax collections, according to the study, which tracked around 40 types of local and state tax collections and levies.
—The Arizona Republic, 6 Apr. 2024
But Hawkins told The Enquirer the district doesn't plan to ask for a levy soon.
—The Enquirer, 5 Apr. 2024
This referendum will increase the property tax levy by nearly 9% to fund additional firefighters, paramedics and police officers.
—Cathy Kozlowicz, Journal Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2024
That can include liens and levies (seizures of your property, including bank accounts).
—Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
This year, in a nod to the struggles of school districts, lawmakers passed a property tax bill that allocated funds for districts to pay off bonds and levies.
—Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 27 Mar. 2024
The measure also eliminates taxes on Social Security income, lowers the statewide mill levy for schools from 20 mills to 19.5 mils and accelerates the elimination of the state sales tax on food to July 1, six months ahead of current law.
—Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 10 Apr. 2024
Verb
Also on the ballot is a proposal backed by the California Business Roundtable to make the two-thirds voter approval threshold universal to taxes, bonds and even fees now levied without a public vote.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Apr. 2024
Shortly before first pitch yesterday, the Brewers announced that no parking violations would be levied against patrons who experienced Opening Day connectivity issues and could not activate their parking passes.
—Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2024
The transfer tax, formally known as Measure ULA, levies a 4% charge on all property sales above $5 million and a 5.5% charge on sales above $10 million, with proceeds funding affordable housing and homelessness initiatives.
—Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2024
Some journal publishers could also see revenues fall if major funders refuse to pay the hefty article-processing charges (APCs) levied by some open-access journals.
—Byjeffrey Brainard, science.org, 1 Apr. 2024
The agreement comes after California Department of Education statutes levied a $39.8 million fine against the district for failing to meet the minimum minutes and days required of instruction during the 2021-22 school year.
—Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 22 Mar. 2024
Chinese officials have levied similar complaints against the Biden administration.
—Alan Rappeport, New York Times, 18 Apr. 2024
Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. and EU have levied sanctions on Russia’s biggest banks and its elite, frozen the assets of the country’s Central Bank located outside the country and excluded its financial institutions from the SWIFT bank messaging system.
—Fatima Hussein, Quartz, 12 Apr. 2024
Called a theme park district, the area would be overseen by a board that can issue bonds to pay for construction and levy a tax on transactions to repay the bonds.
—Stacey Barchenger, The Arizona Republic, 6 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'levy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near levy
Cite this Entry
“Levy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/levy. Accessed 2 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
levy
1 of 2 noun
plural levies
1
a
: the laying or collection especially of a tax
b
: an amount levied
2
: the calling of troops into service
levy
2 of 2 verb
levied; levying
1
: to establish or collect by legal authority
levy a tax
levy a fine
2
: to raise or collect troops for military service
Legal Definition
levy
1 of 2 noun
plural levies
1
: an act of levying: as
a
: the imposition or collection of a tax
b
: the seizure according to a writ of execution of real or personal property in a judgment debtor's possession to satisfy a judgment debt
2
: an amount levied : tax
providing for a levy of 3% on income up to $10,000—D. Q. Posin
D. Q. Posinlevy
2 of 2 verb
levied; levying
1
: to impose or collect (as a tax or fine) with authority
allow it to levy stiffer penalties for some safety violations—National Law Journal
National Law Journal
: to enforce a writ of execution or attachment
specifically
: to make a seizure of real or personal property in a judgment debtor's possession
they might as a last resort levy on his merchandise —J. J. White and R. S. Summers
J. J. White and R. S. Summers Love words? Need even more definitions?
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