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

Gavin Lux hits a solo home run in the fourth inning of the Dodgers’ win over the Red Sox on Sunday. —Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 22 July 2024

Scherzer left the game following the second inning after feeling arm fatigue, leaving his bullpen to cover the final seven frames. —Jacob Calvin Meyer, Baltimore Sun, 21 July 2024

Arozarena added a two-run home run against reliever Josh Maciejewski in the seventh inning on Saturday. —Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 20 July 2024

Despite only entering the game as a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning, Jake Cave doubled and scored off Walker in the seventh and slugged the go-ahead, three-run home run off Rogers in the eighth. —Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 19 July 2024

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

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