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
Others have been unpopular among some aldermen, including resuming gradual hikes in the city’s property tax levy to match the rate of inflation, or similarly raising Chicago’s other fines and fees to match its peer cities. — A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2026 Property tax levies account for about $209 million within the city budget, Queen said, funding the Kansas City Museum, the city health department, the city debt levy and the general fund. — Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 1 July 2026
Verb
The chant has cost Mexico hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines levied by FIFA. — ABC News, 24 June 2026 To help support their Medicaid programs, most states, including Illinois, levy taxes on hospitals. — Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 21 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for levy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for levy
  1. tax
  2. draft
  3. impose
  4. recruit
  5. charge
Noun
  • The existing tax, passed by voters in 2012 and extended in 2016, is set to expire in 2031.
    — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • In practice, governments still want contracts, jobs, and tax revenue at home.
    — Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 6 July 2026
Definition of tax
Verb
  • The next step in the process involves the city drafting a redevelopment plan outlining development standards before holding public hearings and seeking additional approvals.
    — Teresa Mull, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026
  • The nonprofit and the Coastal Commission have drafted a public access management plan that states the land will be open from sunrise to sunset.
    — Alex Wigglesworth Los Angeles Times, Arkansas Online, 5 July 2026
Definition of draft
Verb
  • Instead of doubling down on a flawed system, policymakers can make gradual changes by introducing new tax categories in the existing framework and imposing taxes that correspond to the alcoholic content of that category.
    — Adam Hoffer, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
  • The question is whether Congress imposes clear rules on these deals before ad hoc dealmaking hardens into a permanent industrial policy run by the executive branch alone.
    — James Broughel, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
Definition of impose
Verb
  • At that point, college programs weren’t lining up to recruit a 187-pound pass rusher who hadn’t played a down of high school football.
    — Austin Meek, New York Times, 2 July 2026
  • There is a warning in all of this for the companies working hardest to recruit and retain young Black talent.
    — Jasmine Browley, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of recruit
Verb
  • Gobao also claims the X1P's 500-Wh and 750-Wh batteries can charge up to 80% in about half an hour, using a 30-A charging power from the company.
    — Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 5 July 2026
  • Luis Mauricio Flores Ordonez, 33, was charged with owning an unregistered aircraft that was operated by another person.
    — Kelly O'Donnell, NBC news, 5 July 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 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on levy

Nglish: Translation of levy for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
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
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All