Synonyms of levy

levy 1 of 2

noun

ˈle-vē 

as in tax

a charge usually of money collected by the government from people or businesses for public use

the legislators approved a new levy on imported cattle to help protect American ranchers

Synonyms & Similar Words

• tax
• tariff
• imposition
• impost
• duty
• excise
• assessment
• surtax
• income tax
• direct tax
• property tax
• supertax
• personal tax
• capitation
• poll tax
• tribute
• withholding tax
• sales tax
• single tax
• surcharge
• value-added tax
• toll
• inheritance tax
• hidden tax
• estate tax
• death tax
• sin tax
• flat tax
• custom(s)
• proportional tax

levy

2 of 2

verb

1

as in to draft

to pick especially for required military service

unprepared for war, the government was forced to levy young citizens on a scale that was unprecedented in its history

Synonyms & Similar Words

• draft
• recruit
• enlist
• conscript
• conscribe
• enroll
• volunteer
• call up
• impress
• sign up
• press

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• discharge
• muster out

2

as in to impose

to establish or apply as a charge or penalty

the baseball commissioner levied a fine against every player involved in the fracas

Synonyms & Similar Words

• impose
• charge
• fine
• assess
• put
• tax
• exact
• lay
• excise
• penalize
• dock
• force
• extort
• compel
• milk
• inflict
• coerce
• mulct
• skin
• shake down
• wreak
• gouge
• bleed
• wrest
• squeeze
• wring
• fleece
• relay
• reimpose
• reapply
• set

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• remit
• diminish
• lessen
• abate
• release
• forgive
• ignore
• excuse
• disregard
• condone
• pardon
• gloss (over)
• gloze (over)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of levy

Noun

At a conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Port Klang Authority general manager Karuppiah Subramaniam proposed establishing a permanent fund financed by a levy on trade passing through the waterway. — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 9 Sep. 2026

Pact once again suggested the BBC should look to replace the current licence fee funding model, which is under strain with an increasing number of viewers refusing to pay, with an alternative such as a household levy similar to Germany. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 8 Sep. 2026

Verb

More than a dozen states levy personal property taxes on private jets, which make tempting targets for tax assessors due to their high value. — Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026

And this state-level political group is granted great power to do so, as MIDA can levy taxes for projects while bypassing local or county laws. — Melanie Stetson Freeman, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Sep. 2026