What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
levy
Example
The government decided to levy a new tax on luxury goods. [levy: verb]
Example
The city council approved a levy on property owners to fund road repairs. [levy: noun]
impose
Example
I don't want to impose my beliefs on others. [impose: verb]
Example
The company decided to impose a dress code on its employees. [impose: verb]
Example
The teacher imposed a strict deadline for the project. [imposed: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Impose is more commonly used than levy in everyday language. Impose is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while levy is less common and refers specifically to the imposition of a tax or fee.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between levy and impose?
Both levy and impose are formal words that are often used in legal or governmental contexts. However, levy is more commonly used in financial or military contexts, while impose is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.