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

Rojas delivered a World Series-saving home run in Game 7 at the top of the ninth inning with one out on the board. —Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Nov. 2025

Miller’s conduct occurred after Coastal Carolina head baseball coach Kevin Schnall and assistant Matt Schilling were ejected in the bottom of the first inning of the second game against LSU. —Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 14 Nov. 2025

Cleveland Guardians’ Luis Ortiz pitches in the first inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, in Cleveland, April 30, 2025. —Ian Thomas, CNBC, 9 Nov. 2025

In Game 7, the Dodgers were down to their last outs until an unlikely number two hitter launched a home run in the top of the 11th inning. —Allen Buchanan, Oc Register, 8 Nov. 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