annual
gb/ˈænjuəl/ us/ˈænjuəl/
A2
English
~ 1300
Senses
0 senses
adjective
A2
property
1
Happening yearly
Happening one time each year.
Usage pattern:
an annual [event/meeting/report]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'annual' with 'anniversary'. 'Annual' means something that happens every year, not the date something started.
Synonyms
yearly (A direct synonym; slightly less formal than 'annual'.)
Antonyms
monthly (Occurs every month instead of once a year.)
Collocations
annual meeting
|annual report
|annual event
|annual fee
|annual income
Themes
time
|business
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The company holds an annual conference in June.
- She goes for her annual health check-up every spring.
- The museum's annual fundraiser raised over $50,000.
- We pay an annual membership fee for the gym.
Learner examples
- We have an annual party in December.
- I get an annual letter from my old school.
- The city has an annual parade in May.
Noun
B1
entity
2
Plant living one year
A plant that grows, flowers, makes seeds, and dies in one year.
Usage pattern:
grow [annuals] in the garden
Common mistake:
Some learners think 'annual' as a noun can mean 'yearly event', but as a noun it usually refers to a plant.
Synonyms
seasonal plant (Less precise; refers to plants grown in a particular season, not strictly one-year lifespan.)
Antonyms
perennial (A plant that lives for more than two years.)
Collocations
flowering annuals
|hardy annuals
|colorful annuals
Themes
nature
|gardening
Examples
- Marigolds are popular annuals for home gardens.
- These annuals will add bright color to your yard all summer.
- She planted several varieties of flowering annuals in the front bed.
Learner examples
- I like to grow annuals in my garden.
- Petunias are common annuals.
- We planted red and yellow annuals.
Noun
B1
entity
3
Yearly publication
A book or magazine that comes out once a year.
Usage pattern:
read the [school/company] annual
Synonyms
yearbook ('Yearbook' is more common for schools; 'annual' is used more broadly.)
Collocations
school annual
|company annual
|illustrated annual
Themes
media
|education
|communication
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- The school annual includes photos of all the graduating students.
- He collects the company's annuals dating back to the 1970s.
- The sports club publishes an illustrated annual every December.
Learner examples
- I saw my photo in the school annual.
- The company sends an annual to all workers.
- We read stories in the Christmas annual.
Grammar
Dictionary form
annual
IPA
GB/ˈænjuəl/
US/ˈænjuəl/
Syllables & stress
an - nu - al (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (an)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: annual
Noun
- Base: annual
- Plural: annuals
Word family
Forms
annuals
noun
Core family
annually
adverb B1
Related words
anniversary
noun A2
yearly
adjective B1
Advanced or less common
semiannual
adjective
biennial
adjective
Expressions
annual leave
1/ˈænjuəl lˈiv/
fixed phrase
Paid yearly vacation time
Paid days off work that you get each year.
Examples
- Employees are entitled to 20 days of annual leave.
- She used part of her annual leave to travel to Italy.
annual meeting
1/ˈænjuəl mˈitɪŋ/
fixed phrase
Yearly gathering of members
A meeting that happens once a year for people in a group or company.
Examples
- The board will discuss strategy at the annual meeting.
- Members vote on new officers during the annual meeting.
annual report
1/ˈænjuəl ɹɪpˈɔɹt/
fixed phrase
Yearly company summary report
A document a company makes each year to show its money and activities.
Examples
- The company's annual report shows steady growth.
- Shareholders read the annual report before the meeting.