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

Starting pitcher Logan Webb #62 of the San Francisco Giants throws a warm-up pitch during the first inning of the MLB game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on September 24, 2024, in Phoenix, Arizona. —Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 July 2025

The Phillies went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position Sunday, but the Braves didn’t even advance a runner to second base until the ninth inning. —David O'Brien, New York Times, 30 June 2025

The Royals had a comfortable eight-run lead in the ninth inning of Saturday’s game against the Dodgers, so manager Matt Quatraro made a few changes. —Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 30 June 2025

The swing-man took a no-hitter into the ninth inning on Friday after making his two previous appearances out of the bullpen. —Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 June 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