annual

1 of 2

adjective

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

annual

2 of 2

noun

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

Adjective

The 24-year-old had a career-high 56 points last season and is entering the final year of a two-year, $3 million average annual value contract. — Peter Baugh, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026

The incident happened in the 100 block of West Mountain Avenue several streets over from where Tour de Fat, a massive annual bicycle, beer and music festival hosted by New Belgium Brewing, was happening. — Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026

Noun

Petunias are classic flowering annuals that add a burst of color to your garden from spring right through to the first frost with the right care. — Gemma Johnstone, The Spruce, 31 Aug. 2026

And annuals are meant to only last through one season, so they can be composted once they’re spent and as the chill sets in. — Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French annuel, from Late Latin annualis, blend of Latin annuus yearly (from annus year) and Latin annalis yearly (from annus year); probably akin to Goth athnam (dative plural) years, Sanskrit atati he walks, goes

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing annual

• annual increment
• annual report
• annual ring
• inter-annual

Rhymes for annual

• bimanual
• emmanuel
• nonmanual
• manual

Kids 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

-ē

adverb

annual

2 of 2 noun

1

: 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"