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
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)
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 Díaz returns, Williams will not be the closer in Queens, but should Díaz leave, Williams, a two-time National League Reliever of the Year himself, would have the ninth inning.
—Aaliyan Mohammed, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2025
Primarily as a starter, Morehead worked out of the Red Sox bullpen during the 1967 Impossible Dream postseason, making scoreless relief appearances totaling 3.1 innings between two of the team’s losses to the St. Louis Cardinals.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 4 Dec. 2025
Lugo, 36, pitched 145 ⅓ innings in 2025 and recently signed a two-year contact extension with a vesting option for 2028.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 2 Dec. 2025
Felix Bautista, who, when healthy, has held down the ninth inning, sustained a torn rotator cuff and labrum in his right shoulder and is expected to miss most of the 2026 season.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 29 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inning
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Aaliyan Mohammed, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2025
Primarily as a starter, Morehead worked out of the Red Sox bullpen during the 1967 Impossible Dream postseason, making scoreless relief appearances totaling 3.1 innings between two of the team’s losses to the St. Louis Cardinals.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 4 Dec. 2025
Lugo, 36, pitched 145 ⅓ innings in 2025 and recently signed a two-year contact extension with a vesting option for 2028.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 2 Dec. 2025
Felix Bautista, who, when healthy, has held down the ninth inning, sustained a torn rotator cuff and labrum in his right shoulder and is expected to miss most of the 2026 season.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 29 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inning
Cite this Entry
“Inning.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inning. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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