levies

Meanings

1. 1nounpluralformalfinance

   Compulsory payments, such as taxes or charges, that a government or authority makes people or businesses pay.

   Grammar: Plural of levy; often followed by on: levies on imports.

   Patterns

   • levies on something
   • impose levies on someone

   The government introduced new levies on sugary drinks.

   Import levies raised the price of foreign steel.

   Airlines complained about the extra levies on tickets.

2. 2verbtransitiveformalfinance

   Third person singular of levy: officially demands a tax or fine and collects it.

   Grammar: Takes an object: the city levies a fee on visitors.

   Patterns

   • levies a tax on something

   The council levies a fee on every new building.

   The union levies its members to fund the campaign.

   The state levies a small charge on all hotel rooms.

Word forms

Common combinations

impose levies

The country imposed levies on foreign cars.

environmental levies

Environmental levies encourage firms to pollute less.

raise levies

The city raised levies to repair the roads.

pay levies

Importers must pay levies at the border.

levies on imports

Levies on imports can protect local farmers.

Synonyms and how they differ

taxes

Taxes is the general word, whereas levies often means a specific charge for a certain purpose.

duties

Duties usually means taxes on goods crossing a border, a narrower use than levies.

charges

Charges can be any price asked, while levies are compulsory and official.

tariffs

Tariffs are levies on imports or exports only.

Opposites

Word family

levy noun

one such compulsory payment

levy verb

to demand and collect a tax or fine

levied verb

past tense of levy

levying verb

the -ing form

Commonly confused: levies or levees?

Practice

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