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 How to pronounce inning (audio) 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)

inning

2 of 2

present participle of inn entry 2

Examples of inning in a Sentence

Noun She hit a double in the fourth inning.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
What could have been a double play instead led to a five-run inning that opened the floodgates for a blowout. Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026 Angels starter Ryan Johnson managed to give up one run in five innings despite issuing four of his five walks and throwing 60 of his 88 pitches in the first two innings. Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026 The Giants got a solo homer in the first inning and an RBI double in the third from Bryce Eldridge. ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026 The collision was at least partially blamed for preventing the Reds from recording the third out and allowing the inning to continue. Chantz Martin Outkick, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for inning

Word History

Etymology

Noun

in entry 2 + -ing entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1735, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Time Traveler
The first known use of inning was in 1735

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Inning.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inning. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Kids Definition

: 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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