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 setup will be unveiled Wednesday evening during the company’s annual Max Creativity Conference, a multi-day event in Los Angeles attended by more than 10,000 people. —Dade Hayes, Deadline, 29 Oct. 2025

Besides Franklin, the other six entered the season in the top 10 in annual salary. —Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 29 Oct. 2025

Noun

Most cloches work best on small annuals, herbs, and low-growing veggies, and may not be large enough to cover tall plants like tomatoes. —Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Oct. 2025

Within short order, these pests multiply and wreak havoc on both indoor and outdoor plants, including annuals, perennials, edibles, and shrubs. —Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 27 Oct. 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"