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

The City Section Open Division softball final between Carson and Granada Hills lasted 14 innings before Carson won 1-0. —Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2024

The Kansas City Monarchs pitcher and Parkville native had been every type of reliever during his professional career, from eating up innings to closing out big games. —Carter Woodiel, Kansas City Star, 3 June 2024

The Giants’ pitching was already on fumes, with Tuesday’s starter listed as TBD and their bullpen throwing the most innings in the majors last month. —Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 2 June 2024

Every inning that Grapevine scored the bunt played a big part. —Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 June 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