levy

1 of 2

noun

ˈle-vē 

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 people for military service

b

: troops raised by levy

turned green levies into fighting soldiers

levy

2 of 2

verb

levied; levying

transitive verb

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

intransitive verb

: to seize property

levier noun

Synonyms of levy

Noun

• tax

Verb

• draft
• recruit

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

Other tariffs, such as sector-specific levies of up to 50% under Section 232, also remain on Beijing's shipments to Washington. — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 24 Sep. 2026

The county attributed several factors to the increase, including changes in assessed values and taxing district levies, according to a news release from the county. — Elena Tittel, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2026

Verb

Trump’s new import bans on some Canadian goods are set to begin next week, a response to retaliatory tariffs Canada levied earlier this month. — Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026

State law requires four of the five commissioners court members present to levy taxes, whereas only three constitute a quorum in every other case. — Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English leve, levy, from Anglo-French levé, literally, raising, from lever to raise — more at lever

Verb

Middle English levien, leveen, derivative of leve, levy levy entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Rhymes for levy

• bevy
• chevy
• heavy
• levee
• replevy

Kids Definition

levy

1 of 2 noun

ˈlev-ē 

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

ˈle-vē 

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

levy

2 of 2 verb

levied; levying

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