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

Sasaki has struck out an average of 11.4 hitters per nine innings, while walking two per nine. —Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024

Each of those three hurlers made more than 30 starts for the Mets in 2024, combining for 534 innings throughout the season. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 7 Nov. 2024

Extra innings Fans routinely arrive at Es Con Field Hokkaido well before the first pitch to partake in pre-game festivities. —Oliver Horovitz, Contributor, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2024

Later that month, Doyle raced into shallow center field for a diving grab on a would-be walk-off hit by Tommy Pham in the 12th inning in Chicago, a game Colorado eventually won over the White Sox in 14 innings. —Kyle Newman, The Denver Post, 3 Nov. 2024

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

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