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annex

American  

[uh-neks, an-eks, an-eks, -iks] / əˈnɛks, ˈæn ɛks, ˈæn ɛks, -ɪks /

verb (used with object)

• annexes,
  present (3rd person singular)
• annexed,
  past participle,  past
• annexing
  present participle

1. to attach, append, or add, especially to something larger or more important.

2. to incorporate (territory) into the domain of a city, country, or state.

   Germany annexed part of Czechoslovakia.

3. to take or appropriate, especially without permission.

4. to attach as an attribute, condition, or consequence.

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noun

• annexes
  plural

1. something annexed.

2. a subsidiary building or an addition to a building.

   The emergency room is in the annex of the main building.

3. something added to a document; appendix; supplement.

   an annex to a treaty.

annex British  

verb

1. to join or add, esp to something larger; attach

2. to add (territory) by conquest or occupation

3. to add or append as a condition, warranty, etc

4. to appropriate without permission

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noun

1. a variant spelling (esp US) of annexe

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• preannex
  verb (used with object)
• reannex
  verb (used with object)
• annexable
  adjective
• nonannexable
  adjective
• unannexable
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• annexes
  plural

Participles

• annexing
  present
• annexed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• annex
  simple
• annexes
  simple
• have annexed
  perfect
• has annexed
  perfect
• am annexing
  progressive
• are annexing
  progressive
• is annexing
  progressive
• have been annexing
  perfect progressive
• has been annexing
  perfect progressive

Past

• annexed
  simple
• had annexed
  perfect
• was annexing
  progressive
• were annexing
  progressive
• had been annexing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will annex
  simple
• will have annexed
  perfect
• will be annexing
  progressive
• will have been annexing
  perfect progressive

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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

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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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

annex annexes annexed annexing

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

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

Israeli officials say the deal’s security annex doesn’t contradict their freedom of action against emerging and developing threats.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 29, 2026

There was also an annex in the precinct of Se- rapis, southwest of the city, traditionally called the “daughter” library.

From "Circumference" by Nicholas Nicastro

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

Now, though, Le Fisc says it’s ironed out these problems, and is looking to expand the use of its software spotting pools to identifying other undeclared and taxable housing improvements, like extensions and annexes.

From The Verge ● Aug. 30, 2022

That spring, Germany annexes Czechoslovakia and then demands Danzig and the Polish corridor—the land separating Germany from East Prussia.

From "The Boy Who Dared" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

So it annexed the southernmost Mariana island, Guam, in 1898.

From Salon ● Oct. 13, 2026

Tibet, which Beijing annexed in the 1950s, had long resisted rule by the Chinese Communist Party.

From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026

In March 1938, when Kurt was a 1-year-old, Nazi Germany annexed Austria.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 23, 2026

Not the kind that requires parcels of land to be annexed, such as Guantanamo Bay, in exchange for freedom.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 21, 2026

Then, in August, Lithuania was officially annexed into the Soviet Union.

From "Between Shades of Gray" by Ruta Sepetys

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

The U.S. can defend those lanes without annexing Greenland.

From Slate ● Jan. 8, 2026

Like they’re annexing us or doing us some kind of favor.

From "Legend" by Marie Lu

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Related Words

• addendum
• appendix

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