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

If the visiting team performs more trick plays than the home team ahead of the final inning, they’re awarded an extra point. — Idaho Statesman, 27 July 2026

The right-hander held the Mets to just one run, coming off a single from Bo Bichette, over six innings. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 26 July 2026

Not only that, Kuroda-Grauer stayed on the field for another half-inning before the continuing pain forced him to exit the game. — Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026

Cody Bellinger had to exit the 3-1 win in the eighth inning after experiencing tightness in his left hamstring. — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 26 July 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