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

Keep scrolling for more

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 actress and stylist, who have been romantically linked for several months now, were spotted kissing during The 1975's set at the annual music festival in Indio, California. — Marie Claire, "Kristen Stewart and Sara Dinkin Engage in Steamy PDA at Coachella," 14 Apr. 2019 On Thursday, Snap hosted its first annual partner summit, announcing new features and collaborations across its platform, including lens updates for its camera, augmented reality, video and gaming. — Laura Forman, WSJ, "At Snapchat, the Kids Are All Right," 5 Apr. 2019 Yesterday, the chicest crowd in Los Angeles, dressed in their daytime best, headed to the Will Rogers polo fields to take in Veuve Clicquot’s ninth annual Polo Classic tournament. — Cameron Bird, Vogue, "Kendall Jenner, Olivia Wilde, and More Toast the 9th Annual Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic," 7 Oct. 2018 It will be auctioned off at the Bridge Center’s 27th annual Rudofsky Family Memorial Golf Tournament to support programs for children and young adults with disabilities. — BostonGlobe.com, "Tea by the sea, Korean peace medals, and $2,000 to fight hunger," 13 July 2018 Cycling, archery and the first annual pickleball tournament also took place in June. — Christopher Hanna, courant.com, "New Britain To Host Nutmeg State Games For Ninth Straight Year," 30 June 2018 That’s why Deer Park’s Pony 14-year-old all-stars could use some good news right about now because the club was trounced by the Baytown all-stars 16-3 in the annual Pony 14 Section Tournament at Bay Area Park Friday night. — Robert Avery, Houston Chronicle, "Pony 14-year-old all-stars rocked by Baytown 16-3," 29 June 2018 Wimbledon is one of four annual Grand Slam tournaments, the most elite competitions in the sport where the best-of-the-best from the around the world go racket-to-racket. — Jenny Mccoy, SELF, "Everything You Need to Know About Wimbledon 2018—Including How to Watch," 21 June 2018 After a marathon four-game Friday at Jack C. Fisher Park, the Bearettes went 1-1 on Saturday at to finish third in the 24th annual Owensboro Health/KHSAA Softball State Tournament. — Nate Bryan, The Courier-Journal, "Butler state softball finishes third in KHSAA softball state tournament," 9 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