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
In their initial trips to the plate in the second inning, Caglianone doubled, Collins doubled him home, and Isbel singled to score Collins.
—Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 2 Apr. 2026
Four consecutive two-out hits opened a 3-0 lead for Kansas City in the second inning as Isaac Collins, Isbel and Maikel Garcia delivered RBIs.
—CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
Diego Gutierrez went five innings, striking out six while giving up two runs on five hits and two walks.
—Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
Birdville scored 2 runs in the top of the first inning as Moore helped himself out with a 2-run double to right field.
—Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inning
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Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 2 Apr. 2026
Four consecutive two-out hits opened a 3-0 lead for Kansas City in the second inning as Isaac Collins, Isbel and Maikel Garcia delivered RBIs.
—CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
Diego Gutierrez went five innings, striking out six while giving up two runs on five hits and two walks.
—Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
Birdville scored 2 runs in the top of the first inning as Moore helped himself out with a 2-run double to right field.
—Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inning
Cite this Entry
“Inning.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inning. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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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