levy

noun

Save Word

\ ˈle-vē

plural levies

Definition of levy

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : the imposition or collection of an assessment The government imposed a levy on gasoline.

b : an amount levied

2a : the enlistment or conscription of men for military service

b : troops raised by levy turned green levies into fighting soldiers

levy

verb

levied; levying

Definition of levy (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1a : 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

intransitive verb

: to seize property

Other Words from levy Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More About levy

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: Noun So far, Boris Johnson’s Conservative government has resisted calls from opposition parties for a one-off levy, but the British prime minister is given to pleasing crowds and there are precedents for this type of tax in the U.K. — Rochelle Toplensky, WSJ, 5 May 2022 Under state law, the amount a municipality may raise its tax levy is tied to development that increases the tax base. — Cathy Kozlowicz, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 25 Mar. 2022 If the district is able to abate its debt service payment again in 2022, the average tax bill will increase by 1.4%, which is the consumer price index rate used for the levy. — Rafael Guerrero, chicagotribune.com, 22 Dec. 2021 Issue 68 passed with 55.19% (6,386 votes) voting for the levy. — Shirley Macfarland, cleveland, 5 Nov. 2021 The Australian Greens Party last weekend called for a 6% levy on the assets of billionaires, and South Africa’s government has been considering a wealth tax. — Geoff Colvin, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2021 If approved, the borrowing would create a yearly debt service tax levy increase of roughly $119 for every $100,000 of property value, according to the district. — Bob Dohr, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 15 Mar. 2022 The Anchorage Police Department is still a long way from outfitting officers with body cameras — a move supported by voters through their passage of a $1.8 million annual levy last year. — Tess Williams, Anchorage Daily News, 6 Mar. 2022 At Lake Forest High School, the District 115 school board approved a 1.87% levy increase on Dec. 8. — Daniel I. Dorfman, chicagotribune.com, 3 Jan. 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb But the images of civilians dead in the street in Bucha led Western countries to levy more sanctions and tighten the screws on Moscow even further. — David Goldman, CNN, 6 Apr. 2022 Russia’s invasion of its neighbor has prompted Western nations to levy harsh sanctions on Moscow and the Russian economy. — Will Horner, WSJ, 16 Mar. 2022 Under this law, the US is required to levy sanctions on any country that has dealings with Iran, Russia, or Korea. — Manavi Kapur, Quartz, 4 Mar. 2022 As Western allies levy increasingly harsher economic sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, the latest target involves Russia's access to SWIFT. — Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 26 Feb. 2022 The tension over when and how to levy sanctions was on full display on Monday in Brussels, where Ukraine’s foreign minister met with European counterparts, urging them to move ahead right away rather than wait for the next Kremlin move. — Washington Post, 21 Feb. 2022 Zelensky has urged the West to levy sanctions before a potential invasion, suggesting that doing so after tanks cross his border won’t do his country much good. — Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2022 At home, as the crisis has developed in recent weeks, Biden has faced criticism from Republican lawmakers who have pushed for the White House to preemptively levy sanctions against Moscow. — Aamer Madhani And Zeke Miller, Anchorage Daily News, 26 Jan. 2022 Virtually no country has recognized the action, and Western powers continue to levy sanctions against Russia for it. — New York Times, 7 Dec. 2021 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'levy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries Near levy

levulose

levy

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Statistics for levy

Last Updated

8 May 2022

Cite this Entry

“Levy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/levy. Accessed 19 May. 2022.

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More Definitions for levy

levy

noun

\ ˈle-vē

plural levies

Kids Definition of levy

(Entry 1 of 2)

: something (as taxes) collected by authority of the law

levy

verb

levied; levying

Kids Definition of levy (Entry 2 of 2)

: to collect legally levy taxes

levy

noun

\ ˈle-vē

plural levies

Legal Definition of levy

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

levy

verb

levied; levying

Legal Definition of levy (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

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

2 : to enforce or carry into effect (a writ of execution) — compare attach, garnish

intransitive verb

: 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