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

Texas Rangers pitcher Tyler Mahle throws to the Los Angeles Angels in the first inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, April 15, 2025, Arlington, Texas. —CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026

And in the ninth inning, after he was pulled from the game, reliever Griffin Jax yelled at manager Baldelli in the dugout in a fit of frustration. —Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 31 Dec. 2025

In the regional title game, UALR held a 5-1 lead through three innings, but LSU came to life late and outscored the Trojans 9-1 over the final six innings to avoid the upset and advance to the super regional. —Erick Taylor, Arkansas Online, 31 Dec. 2025

Darvish can’t get out of the second inning in a season-ending, Game 3 loss. —Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 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