yearly
9 synonyms and 0 antonyms for yearly, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Happening once every year.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
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 yearly
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old English ġēarlīċ, formed from "year" plus the adjective/adverb suffix "-ly."
Full origin of yearly →Frequently asked questions
What does “yearly” mean?
The word “yearly” means happening once every year. In plain terms, happening every year, or done once a year.
How do you pronounce “yearly”?
“Yearly” is pronounced YEER-lee (/ˈjɪɹli/ in IPA).
How do you use “yearly” in a sentence?
Here is “yearly” used in a sentence: “The company holds a yearly review of employee performance.”
What is another word for “yearly”?
Words with a similar meaning to “yearly” include annual, per annum, perennial, annually and perennially.
What part of speech is “yearly”?
Depending on how it is used, “yearly” can be an adjective and an adverb.
Where does the word “yearly” come from?
The word “yearly” comes from Old English. From Old English ġēarlīċ, formed from "year" plus the adjective/adverb suffix "-ly.".
Is “yearly” a common word?
“Yearly” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “yearly” have?
“Yearly” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: happening once every year.
What is the difference between "yearly" and "annual"?
Both describe something that happens once a year, but "annual" is more common as an adjective before a noun ("annual report"), while "yearly" works as both an adjective and an adverb ("paid yearly"). In many contexts they are interchangeable.
What is the difference between "yearly" and "biannual"?
"Yearly" means once every year, while "biannual" usually means twice a year, though it is sometimes used to mean once every two years. Because "biannual" is ambiguous, it is often clearer to write "twice a year" or "every two years."
What is the difference between "yearly" and "biennial"?
"Yearly" means happening once each year, while "biennial" means happening once every two years. Take care not to confuse "biennial" with "biannual," which usually means twice a year.
Can "yearly" be both an adjective and an adverb?
Yes. "Yearly" works as an adjective ("a yearly checkup") and as an adverb ("we meet yearly"). This flexibility lets it describe both a noun and the timing of an action.