inning

1 of 2

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)

inning

2 of 2

present participle of inn entry 2

Examples of inning in a Sentence

Noun

She hit a double in the fourth inning.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong celebrates with fans after scoring off a sacrifice-fly from Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner during the ninth inning at Wrigley Field on May 4, 2026. — Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2026

Koosman was knocked out in the fifth inning in Game 2 against Atlanta of the first NL Championship Series before the Mets rallied and went on to sweep the Braves in the best-of-five matchup. — CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026

JoJo Romero got two outs, Abner Uribe recorded two more and closer Trevor Megill pitched the last two innings, allowing an RBI double to Chandler Simpson with two outs in the ninth. — Rob Maaddi, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026

In Game 5 against the Tampa Bay Rays, one night after getting walked off in the bottom of the 13th inning, the Brewers defeated their AL opponent, 4-1, to claim their title. — Scott Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

in entry 2 + -ing entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

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