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

Armando Solorio struck out eight in four innings. —Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026

Logan Gillaspie will start and likely go one inning in Friday’s spring training opener against the Seattle Mariners. —Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026

Joey Beechner, a senior second baseman, blasted a grand slam in West Orange’s big inning. —Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Feb. 2026

Then, after six innings and 96 pitches in the Dodgers’ Game 6 victory, Yamamoto contributed 34 more pitches over 2⅔ innings in relief the very next night to win Game 7 and earn Series MVP honors. —Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 17 Feb. 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