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

Mead advanced to third on a groundout but stopped there after Montgomery fanned Brady House to end the inning. —CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026

The next inning, Trent Grisham lined an opposite-field two-RBI single to extend their lead to 3-0. —James O'Connell, New York Daily News, 16 Apr. 2026

Over his last three starts, Imanaga has given up just two runs, six hits and two walks with 24 strikeouts in 17 innings. —Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026

Lehigh sent 23 men to the plate, three shy of the record for an inning. —ABC News, 15 Apr. 2026

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