an·nu·al
ˈan-yə(-wə)l 
-yü-əl
1
: covering the period of a year
annual rainfall
annual income
2
: occurring or happening every year or once a year : yearly
an annual reunion
an annual physical checkup
3
: completing the life cycle in one growing season or single year
annual plants
1
: an event that occurs yearly
2
: a publication appearing yearly
the high-school annual
3
: something that lasts one year or season
specifically
: a plant that completes its life cycle in one growing season
Examples of annual in a Sentence
Adjective
The annual meeting is in July.
The company's earnings for last year are published in the annual report.
We had more snow this year than the average annual amount.
The company charges an annual fee of $45.
Noun
We planted some annuals in front of the house.
Recent Examples on the Web
Chris Morris, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2024
Trump Media & Technology Group, the company behind Truth Social, filed an application in June 2022 for an H-1B visa for a worker at a $65,000 annual salary, the lowest wage category allowed under the program.
—Adriana Gomez Licon, Quartz, 23 Apr. 2024
The following day, May 1, the Recording Academy will host the annual Grammys on the Hill Advocacy Day, which brings current and past Grammy winners and nominees, along with industry leaders, to meet with lawmakers to discuss issues facing today’s music creators.
—Paul Grein, Billboard, 23 Apr. 2024
The 13th annual Asian Food Fest returns to the Queen City this weekend.
—Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 23 Apr. 2024
In the new role, Kaplan will lead Endeavor’s policy, political and civic-related priorities, working closely with each business to determine and execute annual policy priorities.
—Katcy Stephan, Variety, 23 Apr. 2024
But Vincent Memorial Catholic High School said the trip from Calexico for the CIF San Diego Section’s annual Petco Park Series was worth a 120-mile drive — despite Monday’s 18-1 loss to Oceanside’s Coastal Academy.
—John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Apr. 2024
Apple iOS updates and WWDC Apple previously announced the dates for its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), which will be online June 10 to 14.
—USA TODAY, 23 Apr. 2024
Despite an annual budget of around $100 billion, the U.S. intelligence community does not have a crystal ball and cannot supply evidence fit for a courtroom.
—David V. Gioe, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024
Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Apr. 2024
Schwartz's grows produce and bedding plants, and have a selection of annuals, perennials and gardening supplies.
—Jalen Williams, Detroit Free Press, 15 Apr. 2024
Planting them in a bed with shorter perennials and annuals provides some shade.
—Derek Carwood, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Mar. 2024
Most vigorous annuals will recover in a week or so.
—Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 12 Apr. 2024
The Garden Boutique area will feature vegetable plants, annuals and miscellaneous garden items.
—Journal Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2024
The heat-loving annuals have ferny, strongly scented leaves.
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 6 Apr. 2024
Her Oscar aside, for playing Anita in Steven Spielberg's West Side Story, DeBose earned an Emmy Award nomination for the 75th annual Tony Awards in 2022.
—Dave Quinn, Peoplemag, 27 Mar. 2024
The 2024 Tony Awards, the 77th annual in the show's history, will air live from the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City on Sunday, June 16 (8 p.m. ET) on CBS and Paramount+.
—Dave Quinn, Peoplemag, 27 Mar. 2024
Adjective
The American Customer Satisfaction Index’s annual Travel Survey for 2023–2024 is out, and for airlines at least, customer satisfaction has never been this high.
—Chris Morris, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2024
Trump Media & Technology Group, the company behind Truth Social, filed an application in June 2022 for an H-1B visa for a worker at a $65,000 annual salary, the lowest wage category allowed under the program.
—Adriana Gomez Licon, Quartz, 23 Apr. 2024
The following day, May 1, the Recording Academy will host the annual Grammys on the Hill Advocacy Day, which brings current and past Grammy winners and nominees, along with industry leaders, to meet with lawmakers to discuss issues facing today’s music creators.
—Paul Grein, Billboard, 23 Apr. 2024
The 13th annual Asian Food Fest returns to the Queen City this weekend.
—Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 23 Apr. 2024
In the new role, Kaplan will lead Endeavor’s policy, political and civic-related priorities, working closely with each business to determine and execute annual policy priorities.
—Katcy Stephan, Variety, 23 Apr. 2024
But Vincent Memorial Catholic High School said the trip from Calexico for the CIF San Diego Section’s annual Petco Park Series was worth a 120-mile drive — despite Monday’s 18-1 loss to Oceanside’s Coastal Academy.
—John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Apr. 2024
Apple iOS updates and WWDC Apple previously announced the dates for its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), which will be online June 10 to 14.
—USA TODAY, 23 Apr. 2024
Despite an annual budget of around $100 billion, the U.S. intelligence community does not have a crystal ball and cannot supply evidence fit for a courtroom.
—David V. Gioe, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024
Noun
The legendary performer, who currently stars on the Apple TV+ series Palm Royale, has been selected to receive the honor at the 49th annual Gracie Awards from the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation.
—Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Apr. 2024
Schwartz's grows produce and bedding plants, and have a selection of annuals, perennials and gardening supplies.
—Jalen Williams, Detroit Free Press, 15 Apr. 2024
Planting them in a bed with shorter perennials and annuals provides some shade.
—Derek Carwood, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Mar. 2024
Most vigorous annuals will recover in a week or so.
—Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 12 Apr. 2024
The Garden Boutique area will feature vegetable plants, annuals and miscellaneous garden items.
—Journal Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2024
The heat-loving annuals have ferny, strongly scented leaves.
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 6 Apr. 2024
Her Oscar aside, for playing Anita in Steven Spielberg's West Side Story, DeBose earned an Emmy Award nomination for the 75th annual Tony Awards in 2022.
—Dave Quinn, Peoplemag, 27 Mar. 2024
The 2024 Tony Awards, the 77th annual in the show's history, will air live from the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City on Sunday, June 16 (8 p.m. ET) on CBS and Paramount+.
—Dave Quinn, Peoplemag, 27 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'annual.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to annual
Dictionary Entries Near annual
Cite this Entry
“Annual.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/annual. Accessed 28 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
annual
1 of 2 adjective
an·nu·al
ˈan-y(ə-w)əl
1
: covering the period of a year
annual rainfall
2
: occurring or performed once a year : yearly
an annual meeting
3
: completing the life cycle in one growing season or single year
annual plants
annually
adverb
-ē
annual
2 of 2 noun1
: a publication appearing yearly
2
: an annual plant
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English annual "for a year," from early French annuel and Latin annualis (both, same meaning), derived from Latin annus "year"
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