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

Aaron Judge and Ben Rice went back-to-back in the third inning setting the tone for Max Fried to dominate the Rangers in their 4-2 win on Monday night. —James O'Connell, New York Daily News, 28 Apr. 2026

After opening the season with three wins and a solid fourth outing in a Rays victory, Matz had a rough start on April 21 against the Reds, allowing three home runs and lasting only three innings. —Marc Topkin, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2026

In the first inning on April 18, Orioles catcher Samuel Basallo challenged an 0-1 splitter that the umpire ruled a ball. —Zack Meisel, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026

After taking a six-run lead in the second inning, the Angels blew a three-run lead in the ninth and then a one-run lead in the 10th, eventually losing to the Kansas City Royals, 11-9, on a rainy Sunday. —Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 27 Apr. 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