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
Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 2 Aug. 2025
In May, the National Amusement Park Historical Association named it America's favorite theme park for the third year in a row, as voted for in the 39th annual NAPHA Amusement Park and Attractions Survey.
—Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 2 Aug. 2025
Heather Bien, Southern Living, 1 Aug. 2025
Prices vary, including resident annual at $26, $11 for resident seniors and $10 per day 24-hour licenses for residents or nonresidents.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for annual
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Adjective
In fact, the CPB structure was established by Congress in 1967 as a means of putting some distance between its work and the politicians who vote on the annual Congressional budget allocation.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 2 Aug. 2025
In May, the National Amusement Park Historical Association named it America's favorite theme park for the third year in a row, as voted for in the 39th annual NAPHA Amusement Park and Attractions Survey.
—Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 2 Aug. 2025
Noun
The joyful magenta blooms of bougainvillea are a familiar sight in south Florida and other balmy climates, but they can be grown as a climbing annual anywhere that gets hot, dry consitions in the summer.
—Heather Bien, Southern Living, 1 Aug. 2025
Prices vary, including resident annual at $26, $11 for resident seniors and $10 per day 24-hour licenses for residents or nonresidents.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for annual
Cite this Entry
“Annual.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/annual. Accessed 9 Aug. 2025.
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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