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

Greene struck out on a foul tip against Chicago’s Jordan Leasure in the eighth inning Sunday, bringing him to 179 this season – tied with Justin Upton’s 2016 as the third most in a season in Tigers history, and just four short of passing the franchise’s leader, Cecil Fielder. —Ryan Ford, Freep.com, 8 Sep. 2025

The latest such example occurred in the first inning of the Mets’ 5-4 win over the Reds on Friday when Soto stole third base and then promptly scored on a sacrifice fly. —Will Sammon, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025

Ryan was replaced in the third inning by right-handed reliever — and former Royal — Thomas Hatch. —Kansas City Star, 7 Sep. 2025

Contreras gave up four runs on three hits and a walk in two-thirds of an inning. —Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 7 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