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

McKinstry delivered in the fifth inning, hitting a homer and tying the game 2-2. —Ryan Ford, Freep.com, 6 Oct. 2025

The lone crack in Yesavage’s sturdy exterior came in the first inning. —Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025

If Schmitt made the throw and recorded the out at the plate, Verlander would’ve had an opportunity to finish the fifth inning. —Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 23 Sep. 2025

Manager Alex Cora #13 of the Boston Red Sox watches the action against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the fourth inning at Chase Field on September 05, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. —Tim Crowley, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Sep. 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