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

Edouard Julien, who replaced first baseman TJ Rumfield when Rumfield left the game after getting hit by a pitch in the first inning, went 0 for 2 with a walk. —Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 26 May 2026

McNamara took over in the fourth inning, and went the rest of the way allowing four hits and one earned run while fanning three. —Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 26 May 2026

While Hernández found contact on each of his at-bats, the rest of the team sputtered through six innings. —Liana Handler, Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2026

After Tatis singled and Andujar walked to start the third inning, Bogaerts grounded out and Machado grounded into a double play. —Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 May 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