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

The Phillies liked the matchups, especially Strahm on Butler, in Sunday’s eighth inning. —Matt Gelb, New York Times, 26 May 2025

Horn went eight innings, allowing three hits with six strikeouts, three walks and one hit batter. —Staff, Oc Register, 26 May 2025

Machado was 2-for-2 with two walks on Saturday and doubled to get on base for Merrill in the first inning yesterday and homered in the eighth inning to give the Padres an insurance run. —Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 May 2025

The Royals said kids can begin lining up in the eighth inning on the first-base spiral near Gate D on the Plaza Level. —Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 26 May 2025

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