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

Winds swept the bounce house 20 feet into the air during the bottom of the sixth inning as the Blue Crabs hosted the York Revolution on the evening of Aug. 2. —Dan Belson, Baltimore Sun, 19 Feb. 2025

There’s no denying the Yankees weren’t defensively flawed in 2024, but the issues in that particular inning should be viewed separately, especially because the players were the ones the organization would want involved in the action: the sure-handed Judge, Volpe, Cole and Anthony Rizzo. —Chris Kirschner, The Athletic, 19 Feb. 2025

Lackey, a starting pitcher, was added to the bullpen for the NLCS, and Cubs manager Joe Maddon inserted him in the ninth inning when closer Wade Davis was reportedly not available. —Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2025

Belyeu hit a solo home run in the sixth inning against Holy Cross. —Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 17 Feb. 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