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
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
Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton, The Denver Post, 16 Nov. 2024
The original data was derived from the Plexus Corp. annual 10-K report dated November 15, 2024.
—Quartz Bot, Quartz, 15 Nov. 2024
Katie Campione, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2024
To get those beautiful pops of color, start your annuals in late fall or early winter.
—Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 24 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for annual 
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Adjective
Together, the pair built their own ofrenda at home, then picked out costumes and painted their faces before heading to the annual event at the start of November on the city’s Northside.
—Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton, The Denver Post, 16 Nov. 2024
The original data was derived from the Plexus Corp. annual 10-K report dated November 15, 2024.
—Quartz Bot, Quartz, 15 Nov. 2024
Noun
He was selected as a finalist for the 10th annual Andy Kaufman Award.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2024
To get those beautiful pops of color, start your annuals in late fall or early winter.
—Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 24 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for annual
Articles Related to annual
Dictionary Entries Near annual
Cite this Entry
“Annual.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/annual. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
adverb
-ē
annual
2 of 2 noun1
: 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"
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