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 British monarchy is steeped in tradition, and there's one annual event which honors the queen in a very special way: Trooping the Colour (also called Trooping of the Colour). — Amy Mackelden, Harper's BAZAAR, "What Is Trooping the Colour? The Special Event Pays Tribute to Queen Elizabeth II," 7 June 2019 Gardens Mall guests enjoyed an unconventional art exhibit from May 5 to 19 during the annual Canstruction event, which benefits the Palm Beach County Food Bank. — Krislyn Placide, sun-sentinel.com, "Canstruction raises awareness of hunger in Palm Beach County," 6 June 2019 At its annual Democratic Design Days event this week, Ikea just introduced a new line called Glesvär that includes three new dresser designs with improved safety features. — Liz Stinson, Curbed, "Ikea will soon sell dressers designed for stability," 5 June 2019 For Jackson, 42, the annual event is part of his roots. — Francine Knowles, Daily Southtown, "Knowles: Real Men Cook marks 30-year anniversary," 4 June 2019 Apple At its annual developer event today, Apple unveiled a host of updates that will be coming to the iPad in the near future. — Mike Murphy, Quartz, "It looks like the iPad is getting the one thing it’s really been missing," 3 June 2019 Some reports say the Duchess may attend Trooping the Colour—the annual event marking the Queen’s official birthday—on June 8. — Vogue, "Is Meghan Markle About to Make a Surprise Appearance?," 30 May 2019 As proof that celebrities are really just like us, a fan video from the annual Indiana event shows Kelly—clad in black, sky-high pumps—making her way inside the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. — Blair Donovan, Country Living, "Wait, Why Was There So Much Drama Around Kelly Clarkson at the Indy 500?," 28 May 2019 That means that whatever shareholders are voting on — typically at Facebook’s annual meeting, usually in May — Zuckerberg and those closest to him are always going to win out. — Emily Stewart, Vox, "Mark Zuckerberg is essentially untouchable at Facebook," 21 Nov. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Thirty Years Ago The Crescenta Cañada Flintridge Board of Realtors transformed the La Cañada Youth House-Community Center garden areas by planting a variety of annuals and perennials, as well as by installing park benches. — Carol Cormaci, latimes.com, "La Cañada History: Resistance shelves 1959 L.A. County proposal to sell Descanso Gardens," 3 June 2019 Though technically perennials, mums are often grown as annuals owing to shallow root systems inclined to heave right out of the ground during winter's freeze-thaw cycles. — The Editors, Good Housekeeping, "How to Grow the Most Gorgeous Chrysanthemums This Fall," 9 Aug. 2018 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

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