levy Meaning & Definition
What Does Levy Mean?
As a noun, levy means the imposition or collection of an assessment. It is also used to mean an amount levied. As a verb, it means to impose or collect by legal authority.
Word Facts for Levy
| Part of speech | noun, verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈle-vē/ |
| Syllables | 2 |
| Synonyms | impose, raise and conscript |
| Antonyms | discharge, muster out and remit |
| Plural | levies |
| Verb forms | levies, levying, levied |
Levy Definition (Noun)
- the imposition or collection of an assessment
The government imposed a levy on gasoline.
- an amount levied
- the enlistment or conscription of people for military service
- troops raised by levy
turned green levies into fighting soldiers
Levy as a Verb
- to impose or collect by legal authority
levy a tax
- to require by authority
- to enlist or conscript for military service
- to carry on (war) : wage
- to seize property
Synonyms of Levy
Antonyms of Levy
Levy in a Sentence
to levy a tax
to levy a mill, dike, ditch, a nuisance, etc.
The government imposed a levy on gasoline.
turned green levies into fighting soldiers
levy a tax
the legislators approved a new levy on imported cattle to help protect American ranchers
unprepared for war, the government was forced to levy young citizens on a scale that was unprecedented in its history
the baseball commissioner levied a fine against every player involved in the fracas
Word Forms & Grammar
lev·ies
levies
levy
lev·ied
levy·ing
levi·er noun
levied
levier
leviers
levying
levy (third-person singular simple present levies, present participle levying, simple past and past participle levied)
levy (plural levies)
Words That Rhyme With Levy
Origin of Levy
Origin 1: Middle English leve, levy, from Anglo-French levé, literally, raising, from lever to raise lever
Origin 2: Middle English levien, leveen, derivative of leve, levy levy:1
Origin 3: From Anglo-Norman leve, from Old French levee, from lever (“to raise”), from Latin lēvāre (“to raise, lift”).
Origin 4: Contraction of elevenpence.
First Known Use
13th century
14th centuryt
How to Pronounce Levy
The standard pronunciation of levy is /ˈle-vē/, spoken in 2 syllables, with the main stress on the first syllable (le).
Levy: Your Questions Answered
Is levy a noun or a verb?
Levy is mainly used as a noun, but it can also be used as a verb.
What is another word for levy?
Close synonyms of levy are impose, raise and conscript. See the full list of levy synonyms and antonyms.
What is the opposite of levy?
Words opposite in meaning to levy are discharge, muster out, remit and abate.
What is the plural of levy?
The plural of levy is levies.
What is the past tense of levy?
The past tense of levy is levied. The present participle is levying.