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

His third in the seventh inning was a comparative chip-shot, 427 feet into the pavilion in center for a 5-0 lead. —Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 19 Oct. 2025

When asked if pitching Brendon Little in the eighth inning Friday was a mistake, Schneider paused. —Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025

Eugenio Suárez approached the plate in the bottom of the eighth inning with the score tied at two each. —Jamie Barton, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2025

No other game has featured two immaculate innings, in which the pitcher retires all three batters on three-pitch strikeouts. —Jon Paul Hoornstra, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 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