annually

annually — adverb

1. happening, done, or paid one time during every twelve-month period.

1.adverbB2
Definition

happening, done, or paid one time during every twelve-month period.

Example

The cherry blossom festival is held annually in the first week of April.

passive: be held annually for recurring events

Renata pays her car insurance annually rather than in monthly amounts.

verb + annually: pays annually

Common collocations
  • held annually
  • paid annually
  • increase annually
  • review annually
  • published annually
Synonyms
  • yearly

    near-identical meaning, slightly more everyday in tone

  • every year

    plain phrasing; preferred in casual speech

  • per annum

    formal, mainly in finance and contracts; usually after a sum

Grammar Patterns

verb + annually

annually + past participle

Usage Note

Usually placed after the verb or its object, not before. Common with verbs of recurring action (hold, pay, publish, review, increase).

Common Mistakes

The festival annually happens in spring.
The festival happens annually in spring.
adverb follows the verb, not before it.
She earns 50,000 dollars annual.
She earns 50,000 dollars annually.
use the adverb form to modify a verb; 'annual' is the adjective.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

All four describe something that happens once in each twelve-month cycle, but they differ in tone and setting. 'Annually' is neutral and works well in news, business, and formal writing — 'the report is published annually'. 'Yearly' carries the same meaning but feels slightly warmer and more everyday — 'a yearly check-up at the dentist'. 'Per annum' is strictly formal and almost always attached to a sum of money in contracts, salaries, or interest rates — 'a fee of $200 per annum'. 'Every year' is the plainest spoken option and the safest choice in conversation — 'we go to the lake every year'. So in casual talk, prefer 'every year'; in reports, 'annually'; on a payslip, 'per annum'.

annually ↗yearlyper annumevery year

Common collocations

Phrases

  • held annually
  • paid annually
  • published annually
  • reviewed annually
  • increase annually
  • updated annually

Prepositions

  • by (a percentage/amount) annually

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Built from the adjective 'annual' plus the adverb suffix '-ly'. 'Annual' came into English in the late 1300s from Old French 'annuel', which traced back to Latin 'annualis' ('lasting a year') and ultimately the noun 'annus' ('year'). The same root sits inside 'anniversary' and 'annuity'.