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
Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 24 Feb. 2026
Country Dick Montana Lifetime Achievement Award recipient when the 35th edition of the annual awards is held May 6 at Humphreys Concerts by the Bay.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Feb. 2026
Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 17 Feb. 2026
The same plant or seeds will flourish when started weeks later when the soil has warmed up Soil temperature is especially important for flowering annuals and vegetables; many are classified as being better suited to cooler or warmer soil.
—David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for annual
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
However, their annual deductible for medical care is $15,000 — up sharply from last year, when the couple had a $0 deductible for medical care and $1,500 for prescriptions.
—Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 24 Feb. 2026
Country Dick Montana Lifetime Achievement Award recipient when the 35th edition of the annual awards is held May 6 at Humphreys Concerts by the Bay.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Feb. 2026
Noun
Annual The distinctive flowers, seed pods, and delicate foliage of this classic cool-season annual are a favorite among florists.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 17 Feb. 2026
The same plant or seeds will flourish when started weeks later when the soil has warmed up Soil temperature is especially important for flowering annuals and vegetables; many are classified as being better suited to cooler or warmer soil.
—David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for annual
Cite this Entry
“Annual.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/annual. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
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"
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
