annual

adjective

an·nu·al | \ ˈan-yə(-wə)l

, -yü-əl\

Definition of annual

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

noun

Definition of annual (Entry 2 of 2)

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

Other Words from annual More Example Sentences Learn More about annual

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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

Last Saturday, Maison de Mode celebrated its second annual Sustainable Style Gala at the Sunset Tower in Los Angeles. — Elle Decor Editors, ELLE Decor, "Maison de Mode Celebrates Sustainable Style with a "Green Carpet"," 26 Feb. 2019 The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller 20-city home price index increased 5.9 percent in July compared with a year earlier, down from a 6.4 percent annual gain in July. — Christopher Rugaber, Fox News, "US home prices rise at slowest pace in nearly a year," 25 Sep. 2018 The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller 20-city home price index increased 5.9 percent in July compared with a year earlier, down from a 6.4 percent annual gain in July. — Christopher Rugaber, The Seattle Times, "US home prices rise at slowest pace in nearly a year," 25 Sep. 2018 That remained below the roughly 4 percent annual gains that are typical of a healthy economy. — Christopher Rugaber, BostonGlobe.com, "American workers’ willingness to quit — often for better pay — hits a 17-year high," 10 July 2018 That is the fastest 12-month pace since 2012 and stands above the Fed's optimal target for 2 percent annual gains in inflation. — Martin Crutsinger, USA TODAY, "US consumer spending weak in May, while inflation speeds up," 29 June 2018 Economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal forecast existing home sales rose 2.2% to a 5.10 million annual rate in January. — Wsj Staff, WSJ, "Global Economy Week Ahead," 17 Feb. 2019 Even when these conditions surface, many seniors retain an overall sense of well-being, according to new research presented in April at the Population Association of America's annual meeting. — chicagotribune.com, "Research finds seniors seem to enjoy longer brain health than in the past," 18 June 2018 Onufrak was presenting the results from the research on Monday at the American Society for Nutrition annual meeting in Boston. — Martin Finucane, BostonGlobe.com, "Study says people eat a lot at work — and it’s not too healthy," 11 June 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

In the showdown between annuals and perennials, is one kind better than the other? — Arricca Sansone, Country Living, "Annuals vs. Perennials: Everything You Need to Know," 1 Feb. 2019 Don’t ever assume that perennials are less work than annuals. — Neil Sperry, star-telegram, "The garden of unreasonable expectations. It sounds like a Harry Potter book, but it's real | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 12 Apr. 2018 In a perfect-world scenario, testing would start during high school at their annuals, along with PAP smear. — Kim Brooks, Harper's BAZAAR, "The New Frontier of Fertility Tests—for Young Women," 1 Nov. 2018 Try interplanting your perennials with annuals that love hot weather. — The Editors Of Organic Life, Good Housekeeping, "18 Summer Flowers That Can Take The Heat," 27 July 2016 These annuals begin to bloom in early spring and continue through most of summer, and in milder climates, they can be seen blooming from autumn through the winter months. — The Editors Of Organic Life, Good Housekeeping, "4 Things You Need To Know In Order To Grow Perfect Pansies," 16 June 2016 Mums purchased as annuals in late summer do not require this treatment. — The Editors, Good Housekeeping, "How to Grow the Most Gorgeous Chrysanthemums This Fall," 9 Aug. 2018 For containers that remain attractive all summer long, look for warm-weather annuals that bloom all summer or have foliage that remains attractive. — The Editors, Good Housekeeping, "Everything You Need to Know About Container Gardening," 13 Aug. 2018 Change out the pot with fall annuals, mums, grasses and other cool-season flowers. — Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp, Indianapolis Star, "The Hoosier Gardener: Plant your red, white and blue," 3 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'annual.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for annual

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