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

Bishop Alemany 4, St. Francis 1: Franky Magaña threw three shutout innings of relief for Alemany. —Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2025

In his first start, Will pitched into the sixth inning and held Quinnipiac to one run. —Stephen J. Nesbitt, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025

Schmidt, 29, went 5-5 with a 2.85 ERA in 85.1 innings over 16 starts last year. —Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 27 Mar. 2025

Seth Nielson added a two-run single as part of a four-run third inning. —Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 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