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

But that could be changing after Thomson went to Ruiz to get a big out in the eighth inning of Friday’s 3-2 win over the Dodgers. —Anthony Stitt, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025

He’s allowed one run and two walks through 12 2/3 innings. —Levi Weaver, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025

The 6-2 senior from White Rock, British Columbia, has allowed one earned run or less in seven of his last eight outings covering 15 2/3 innings since Feb. 26. —Tom Murphy, Arkansas Online, 8 Apr. 2025

After returning from injury, he's posted a 3.72 ERA and has struck out 11 hitters in 9 2/3 innings for the Marlins. —John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Apr. 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