inning

noun

in·​ning ˈi-niŋ 

1

a

: a division of a baseball game consisting of a turn at bat for each team

also : a baseball team's turn at bat ending with the third out

b

innings ˈi-niŋz  plural in form but singular or plural in construction : a division of a cricket match

c

: a player's turn (as in horseshoes, pool, or croquet)

2

: a chance or opportunity for action or accomplishment

—usually used in plural but singular or plural in construction

… that momentous innings … which was to project him into world politics …

—The Times Literary Supplement (London)

Examples of inning in a Sentence

She hit a double in the fourth inning.

Recent Examples on the Web

Amador hit a first-pitch fastball into McCovey Cove in the second inning to take 4-1 lead. — CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026

But this time Holmes unraveled against the Diamondbacks — notably a National League playoff contender — and didn’t make it through the fourth inning. — Gabriel Burns, AJC.com, 16 Aug. 2026

Báez stayed patient in his second at-bat, driving Boyd’s changeup into the left-field bleachers for a solo homer in the fourth inning. — Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026

Starter Nick Lodolo pitched the first five innings, giving up three hits, striking out two and walking two. — ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

in entry 2 + -ing entry 1

First Known Use

1735, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Phrases Containing inning

• the seventh-inning stretch

Rhymes for inning

• binning
• dinning
• ginning
• grinning
• pinning
• sinning
• skinning
• spinning
• thinning
• tinning
• twinning
• winning

Kids Definition

inning

noun

in·​ning ˈin-iŋ 

: a division of a baseball game consisting of a turn at bat for each team

also : a baseball team's turn at bat