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

West scored eight runs in the first inning and 13 in the second before tacking on two more in the third. —Nwa Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 5 Mar. 2026

When the Giants introduced Will at Oracle Park after taking him in the first round of the 2021 MLB draft, David was coincidentally in town with the Pittsburgh Pirates and pitched a scoreless inning. —Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2026

Newcomb got the start Tuesday against the San Diego Padres at Camelback Ranch and allowed two runs on five hits with one strikeout and one walk in three innings. —Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026

Sasaki couldn’t throw strikes and didn’t retire a batter in the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians. —Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 4 Mar. 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