annual
6 synonyms and 0 antonyms for annual, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Happening once every year.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use annual
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Late Latin annualis, based on Latin annus, "year."
Full origin of annual →Frequently asked questions
What does “annual” mean?
The word “annual” means happening once every year. In plain terms, something that happens, or is published, once every year.
How do you pronounce “annual”?
“Annual” is pronounced AN-yoo-uhl (/ˈæn.ju.əl/ in IPA).
How do you use “annual” in a sentence?
Here is “annual” used in a sentence: “The company holds its annual conference every March.”
What part of speech is “annual”?
Depending on how it is used, “annual” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “annual” come from?
The word “annual” comes from Late Latin. From Late Latin annualis, based on Latin annus, "year.".
Is “annual” a common word?
“Annual” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “annual” have?
“Annual” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: happening once every year.
What is the difference between annual and biennial?
Annual means happening once every year, or, for a plant, completing its whole life cycle within a single year. Biennial means happening every two years, or a plant that takes two years to grow, flower and die. The key is the interval: one year for annual, two years for biennial.
What is the difference between annual and perennial?
In gardening, an annual plant lives for just one growing season and must be replanted, while a perennial survives for many years, dying back and regrowing each season. More generally, 'perennial' also means constant or endlessly recurring, as in 'a perennial problem', whereas 'annual' fixes an event to once a year.
What is the difference between annual and biannual?
'Annual' clearly means once a year. 'Biannual' is famously ambiguous: it can mean twice a year or once every two years, so people often avoid it. If you mean twice a year, 'semi-annual' is clearer; for every two years, 'biennial' removes the confusion entirely.
What is an example of 'annual'?
Common examples include an annual report, published once a year; annual leave, the yearly holiday allowance from work; an annual checkup with a doctor; and annual rainfall, the total measured over a year. In each case the event or figure recurs on a yearly cycle.