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

For the season, Gorajski has 119 strikeouts in 126 innings. —Tony Baranek, Chicago Tribune, 12 May 2026

The Guardians had a five-run outburst in the third inning, taking advantage of four walks, to extend their lead to 7-0. —Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026

Despite playing the seventh inning, White was replaced in the field in the eighth so he could be placed in concussion protocol. —Jesús Cano, New York Times, 11 May 2026

Jesús Rodríguez hit an RBI single in the 12th inning and the San Francisco Giants rallied from a pair of two-run deficits to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-6 on Sunday. —CBS News, 11 May 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