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
Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2025
But by incorporating a fundraising effort with onstage salutes to firefighting heroes, the annual celebration of music's biggest artists managed to deftly walk that sensitivity line Sunday while adding several memorable moments to 67 years and counting of Grammy Awards spectacles.
—Marco Della Cava, USA TODAY, 3 Feb. 2025
Tom MacCubbin, Orlando Sentinel, 1 Feb. 2025
Seeds To Plant In Winter Winter is the ideal time to plant the seeds of many flowering annuals and perennials, including wildflowers.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 23 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for annual 
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Adjective
Chesterton High School Music Department hosts Big Band Bash
Chesterton High School’s Music Department will host its annual Big Band Bash this Friday and Saturday, Feb. 7 and 8.
—Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2025
But by incorporating a fundraising effort with onstage salutes to firefighting heroes, the annual celebration of music's biggest artists managed to deftly walk that sensitivity line Sunday while adding several memorable moments to 67 years and counting of Grammy Awards spectacles.
—Marco Della Cava, USA TODAY, 3 Feb. 2025
Noun
Start seeds of warm-season annuals and long-lasting perennials. 60.
—Tom MacCubbin, Orlando Sentinel, 1 Feb. 2025
Seeds To Plant In Winter Winter is the ideal time to plant the seeds of many flowering annuals and perennials, including wildflowers.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 23 Jan. 2025
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 16 Feb. 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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