inning

1 of 2

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)

inning

2 of 2

present participle of inn entry 2

Examples of inning in a Sentence

Noun

She hit a double in the fourth inning.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

And when veteran infielder Miguel Rojas pinch-hit for Alex Freeland in the eighth inning, the 21-year-old De Paula and 29-year-old Kyle Tucker were the only Dodgers under 30 remaining in the batting order. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026

Marlins starter Janson Junk gave up one run and three hits over 4 2/3 innings. — CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026

Peacock will stream every inning of the wild card round, between eight and 12 games. — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 28 Sep. 2026

During the sixth inning, Tigers manager AJ Hinch walked from the dugout to the plate and gestured toward the seats for Genevieve — whom Verlander shares with wife Kate Upton — to come out for a special surprise. — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

in entry 2 + -ing entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

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