annex

annex — verb

1. If a country annexes land or another country, it brings that area under its own

1.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

If a country annexes land or another country, it brings that area under its own rule, normally through military action or against the wishes of the people who live there.

Example

In 1845, the United States annexed Texas after years of political pressure.

annex + [named territory] in historical contexts

The general ordered his troops to annex the small island within a week.

Common collocations
  • formally annex
  • forcibly annex
  • annex a region
  • annex a territory
Synonyms
  • incorporate

    neutral; absorb into a larger unit, often peacefully

  • seize

    emphasises the sudden, forceful taking; need not become permanent territory

  • occupy

    control land militarily without necessarily claiming ownership

Antonyms
  • cede

    give up territory to another country, the opposite move

  • relinquish

    formally surrender control or claim

Grammar Patterns

annex + [territory/country]

Usage Note

Subject is almost always a country, empire, or ruling power; object is land, a region, or another nation. Frequently appears in the passive (be annexed by). Distinguish from 'invade', which describes the military entry without implying permanent absorption.

Common Mistakes

The company annexed a smaller firm last year.
The company took over a smaller firm last year.
for businesses use 'take over' or 'acquire'; 'annex' is reserved for territory.

annex — noun

Word family

  • annexation
    nounC2
  • annexed
    adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All four describe taking control of land, but they differ in scope and finality. 'Invade' is the first step: armed forces cross a border, but the attacker may later withdraw. 'Occupy' means controlling the area on the ground, often as a temporary military presence — a country can occupy a region for years without owning it. 'Seize' stresses the sudden, forceful grab and works for cities, ports, or buildings, not only whole territories. 'Annex' is the legal and political end-point: the territory is formally declared part of the conquering state. Compare: 'Russian troops invaded the region in March, occupied the main cities by April, and the government formally annexed the territory in May.'

annex ↗occupy ↗invade ↗seize ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • see annex A
  • in the annex
  • an annex to the contract

Prepositions

  • annex to
  • annex from
  • annexed by

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishModern English

Annex came into English in the late 1300s from Old French 'annexer', which traced back to Latin 'annectere', meaning 'to bind to' (from 'ad-' = to + 'nectere' = tie, bind). The earliest English meaning was simply 'to attach' something to a larger thing. From the 1500s onwards, writers used it for joining a small building to a bigger one, and from the late 1700s it became the standard word for one country bringing foreign land under its rule.