annex
Americanverb (used with object)
-
annexes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
annexed,
past participle, past
-
annexing
present participle
-
to attach, append, or add, especially to something larger or more important.
-
to incorporate (territory) into the domain of a city, country, or state.
Germany annexed part of Czechoslovakia.
-
to take or appropriate, especially without permission.
-
to attach as an attribute, condition, or consequence.
noun
-
annexes
plural
-
something annexed.
-
a subsidiary building or an addition to a building.
The emergency room is in the annex of the main building.
-
something added to a document; appendix; supplement.
an annex to a treaty.
verb
-
to join or add, esp to something larger; attach
-
to add (territory) by conquest or occupation
-
to add or append as a condition, warranty, etc
-
to appropriate without permission
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
preannexverb (used with object)
-
reannexverb (used with object)
-
annexableadjective
-
nonannexableadjective
-
unannexableadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
annexsimple
-
annexessimple
-
have annexedperfect
-
has annexedperfect
-
am annexingprogressive
-
are annexingprogressive
-
is annexingprogressive
-
have been annexingperfect progressive
-
has been annexingperfect progressive
Past
-
annexedsimple
-
had annexedperfect
-
was annexingprogressive
-
were annexingprogressive
-
had been annexingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of annex
First recorded in 1350–1400; (verb) Middle English, from Anglo-French, Old French annexer, from Medieval Latin annexāre, derivative of Latin annexus “tied to,” past participle of annectere ( see annectent); (noun) from French annexe or noun use of verb
Explanation
An annex is an extension of or an addition to a building. A small room off of a main room is an annex, and attics are another type of annex. As a noun, an annex is part of a building or an addition to a main structure, or it can be an attachment, as in "an annex to the current plans." When used as a verb, the word means something a little different. Sometimes annex is used as a nice word for "take" or "grab," as when Nazi Germany took the Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia in 1938 and added it to their own territory. In order to annex something to what is yours, you have to take it away from someone else.
Vocabulary lists containing annex
300 Most Difficult "SAT" Words
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Diary of a Young Girl
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Maus I: My Father Bleeds History
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The agreement illustrates a historical pattern: The United States no longer needs to annex land to achieve its strategic objectives abroad.
From Salon ● Oct. 13, 2026
In early 2025, he proposed expanding Suisun City’s borders by 35 square miles to annex a significant portion of California Forever’s land.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 10, 2026
If his boasts mean he will no longer threaten to annex Greenland, that’s good.
From Slate ● Sep. 22, 2026
Part of the document seen by the BBC is an annex.
From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026
Like Anne, who spent her adolescence hiding in the secret annex, Gerda sat perched on a wooden box in a windowless cellar.
From "The Freedom Writers Diary" by The Freedom Writers
But Inara demands the whole agreement, including all annexes and associated materials, the secretary of state’s verification assessment and any certifications.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026
Participants will be working on shared language for annexes covering child protection, AI security and governance and diffusing AI through economies -- especially to small and medium firms.
From Barron's ● May 29, 2026
The last Mexican governor of the state, he reckons with land-grabbers in the final era of Mexican governance before the United States annexes the territory.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 15, 2025
More stringent environmental requirements may be added to the deal in annexes, he added.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 25, 2023
These were less grand: storerooms, cupboards, annexes, cubbyholes.
From "The Mona Lisa Vanishes" by Nicholas Day
So it annexed the southernmost Mariana island, Guam, in 1898.
From Salon ● Oct. 13, 2026
After Nazi Germany annexed Austria in 1938, the Weinberglager complex was used for thousands of prisoners of war and forced labourers.
From Barron's ● Aug. 28, 2026
At the end of World War Two, the Soviet Union annexed the island chain and deported around 17,000 Japanese residents.
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026
In March 1938, when Kurt was a 1-year-old, Nazi Germany annexed Austria.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 23, 2026
Sarajevo was the capital of Bosnia, a rebellious province recently annexed by Austria-Hungary, usually referred to simply as Austria.
From "The War to End All Wars: World War I" by Russell Freedman
Rather than annexing the island, the United States appears poised to secure many of its strategic objectives without changing any borders.
From Salon ● Oct. 13, 2026
In June, Hoekstra said the idea of the US annexing Canada would be "a great discussion" for Trump to have with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
From Barron's ● Aug. 13, 2026
He led major campaigns against the Parthians, Rome’s main rival to the east, sacking their capital city and annexing a huge swath of territory.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 19, 2026
A recent Yahoo News/YouGov poll found that only 19 percent of Americans support annexing Greenland; another European poll found that only 6 percent of Greenlanders would be interested in joining the U.S.
From Slate ● Mar. 28, 2025
Like they’re annexing us or doing us some kind of favor.
From "Legend" by Marie Lu
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
