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

The Commerce Department says retail sales rose at a 0.5 percent annual rate in July, after a 0.2 percent increase the previous month. — Christopher Rugaber, Fox News, "US retail sales rose at robust 0.5 pct. annual rate in July," 15 Aug. 2018 The fourth annual shopping event kicks off on July 16, promptly at 3:00 p.m. EST, and runs through July 17—giving us a good 36 hours of prime-exclusive shopping. — Glamour, "Amazon Prime Day 2018: Best Fashion Picks Under $50," 16 July 2018 On Friday and Saturday, vendors set up displays in Glencoe selling merchandise to passersby in the 2018 incarnation of the annual outdoor event. — Daniel I. Dorfman, chicagotribune.com, "Glencoe Sidewalk Sale draws people into the heat for yearly two-day event," 3 July 2018 The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrived at the annual charity event on Sunday together. — Maria Pasquini, PEOPLE.com, "Meghan Markle Supports Prince Harry at Polo Match on Princess Diana's Birthday," 1 July 2018 Media: Euronews The six-year study on methane found that annual emission rates from energy companies are about 60 percent higher than what the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports. — Jordan Blum, Houston Chronicle, "Exxon Mobil, Chevron help form new methane emissions consortium," 25 June 2018 Salty snack sales in the U.S. reached $22 billion in 2015, posting an annual growth rate of 3.7 percent. — Paul Takahashi, San Antonio Express-News, "H-E-B snack plant to rise in northwest Houston," 13 June 2018 Stimulus is likely to succeed eventually, but Beijing’s annual growth target is still in danger of being lowered to 6% from 6.5% in the coming months. — Jon Sindreu, WSJ, "Investors’ Best Option: Keep Faith in U.S. Stocks," 21 Jan. 2019 Though they weren't photographed together, the couple attended the third annual Berggruen Prize Gala at the New York Public Library in December 2018. — Rachel Epstein, Marie Claire, "Princess Beatrice Is Dating Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi—Here's What You Need to Know About Him," 8 Jan. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

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 Roses, peonies, lilies, tomatoes and many other annuals, perennials, shrubs and vegetables may turn yellow, wilt and die if juglone is in the soil, Taylor says. — Beth Botts, chicagotribune.com, "Many plants die when grown near black walnut trees. These are the ones that survive.," 20 June 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