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

Walker Buehler pelting the pinstripes with precision pitches in the ninth inning of Game 5 to secure the championship for the Dodgers. —Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 27 Dec. 2024

In the first inning on Oct. 7, 2001, Rickey led off with a bloop double to right field for hit No. 3,000 and immediately left the game. —Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 27 Dec. 2024

He was traded by the Los Angeles Angels to the Atlanta Braves for Jorge Soler after the season and then waived in what was essentially a salary dump for the Mets’ NL East foes after going 6-13 with a 5.19 ERA and a 5.26 FIP across 171 2/3 innings (32 starts) last season. —Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 26 Dec. 2024

To put that innings in context, Larry Gomes top-scored for the West Indies with 55 across their two innings. —Tim Ellis, Forbes, 25 Dec. 2024

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

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