annual

1 of 2

adjective

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

annual

2 of 2

noun

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

Adjective

The system is free for 90 days with monthly or annual plans after that. —Mark Phelan, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025

Nearly 200 vendors are slated to pack the 44th iteration of the annual North End tradition — up from 160 three years ago. —Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 10 Sep. 2025

Noun

The cool nights and crisp clear days of fall rejuvenate flowering annuals and perennials that may have languished in the heat of summer. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 8 Sep. 2025

This could be the problem with the annuals in your containers. —Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 30 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing annual

• annual increment
• annual report
• annual ring
• inter-annual

Rhymes for annual

• manual
• bimanual
• emmanuel
• nonmanual

Kids 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

-ē

adverb

annual

2 of 2 noun

1

: 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"