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

Since Moyer retired 13 years ago, there have only been two pitchers to throw even an inning of big-league ball at the age of 45 or older. —Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 21 Dec. 2025

The Phils escaped the inning and beat the Dodgers, 4-3, for their 60th win of the 2024 season. —Tom Dougherty, CBS News, 19 Dec. 2025

Gas prices are now lower in a majority of states, and the good news is that the downward trend may continue into the closing innings of 2025, with further declines likely across much of the country. —Miami Herald, 15 Dec. 2025

The 34-year-old right-hander, an All-Star with the Washington Nationals in 2024, allowed only nine hits and three runs over 18 innings down the stretch. —Jon Paul Hoornstra, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 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