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
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)
The Times Literary Supplement (London)Examples of inning in a Sentence
She hit a double in the fourth inning.
Recent Examples on the Web
No American League lineup sees fewer pitches per plate appearance, a flaw showcased by Sunday’s first inning.
—Chandler Rome, New York Times, 22 Sep. 2025
Later in the inning, Witt gave the Royals an early lead.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2025
Ramón Laureano’s one-out double and his steal of third base in the sixth was followed by a groundout by Gavin Sheets that got the Padres to 4-3 in the sixth inning.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Sep. 2025
Just after the Angels handed him a 6-3 lead in the top of the fifth, Farris gave up back-to-back hits and a walk to loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the inning.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 20 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inning
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Chandler Rome, New York Times, 22 Sep. 2025
Later in the inning, Witt gave the Royals an early lead.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2025
Ramón Laureano’s one-out double and his steal of third base in the sixth was followed by a groundout by Gavin Sheets that got the Padres to 4-3 in the sixth inning.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Sep. 2025
Just after the Angels handed him a 6-3 lead in the top of the fifth, Farris gave up back-to-back hits and a walk to loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the inning.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 20 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inning
Cite this Entry
“Inning.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inning. Accessed 24 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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