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

For the first time in nearly four decades, the city is ready to undertake a review of health providers in order to understand which ones deserve a piece of health levy funding — and which may not. —Suzanne King, Kansas City Star, 4 Feb. 2026

Moreover, as with every purchase by an English top-flight club, Liverpool are subject to the Premier League’s four per cent transfer levy. —Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026

Verb

Progressives and leftists in the Democratic Party, particularly in New York City, have at times held Hochul at arm’s length for her moderate politics and unwillingness to levy taxes against the city's top earners. —Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 5 Feb. 2026

In a statement, Connecticut Hospital Association CEO Jennifer Jackson said that, even with the reduction in taxes levied, the proposal doesn’t do enough for hospitals given how little the state pays providers to treat patients with Medicaid coverage. —Katy Golvala, Hartford Courant, 5 Feb. 2026