levy 1 of 2

noun

ˈle-vē How to pronounce levy (audio)
Definition of levynext
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

Relevance

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of levy
Noun
In the meantime, the change in the levy applied to these services would effectively broaden the tax base and increase hugely the amount flowing into the CNC, the National Film Board which subsidies the cinema and audiovisual industry. — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026 The schools then call for tax levies to pay for the increases. — Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026
Verb
For more than 20 years, California has levied taxes on health insurers to help fund Medi-Cal, the state’s insurance program for low-income people. — ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026 The utility issued 2,000 warnings and levied 110 fines that totaled approximately $30,000. — Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 5 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for levy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for levy
  1. tax
  2. draft
  3. impose
  4. recruit
  5. charge
Noun
  • Japan, with the oldest population in the world, introduced a tax on all over-40s in 2000, ring-fenced for care.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 11 Oct. 2026
  • High-income investors can get extra bang for their buck from buying tax-exempt municipal bonds or using the selloff to harvest tax losses and reinvest in better-yielding debt, according to Jason Katz of UBS.
    — Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of tax
Verb
  • In 2026, she was drafted and waived by the Toronto Tempo and Atlanta Dream before being claimed by the Sparks.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Last year, Raman voted in favor of a 45-day citywide moratorium on new RV parks, a move aimed at giving city planners time to draft permanent new rules to regulate such facilities.
    — David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of draft
Verb
  • Growing tensions China has been pushing for the EU to stop blocking Chinese imports of advanced computer chipmaking machines, restrictions imposed on national security grounds at Washington’s behest.
    — Sam McNeil, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Health care, homelessness The countywide sales tax initiative proposes imposing a quarter-cent tax in order to increase services for unhoused residents as well as address KCK’s healthcare shortage.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of impose
Verb
  • To help recruit a younger demographic, Clarins has teamed with Pop Mart to create product packaging featuring an illustrated girl character, named Molly in Paris.
    — Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The advisor who ends up on a board wasn’t there to be recruited.
    — Jennifer Hoffmann, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of recruit
Verb
  • One of the consultants, Denver transportation attorney Brett Butzin, billed almost $130,000 for flights in a single year while charging almost $600 an hour for his services.
    — Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Isaias peeled off hotel and condominium rooftops and facades along the Florida Panhandle before charging north Saturday, dishing out torrential rains and the threat of flash floods and tornadoes across the Southeast.
    — Emilie Megnien, Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of charge

Browse Nearby Words

levity
levy
levying
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Levy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/levy. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All