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
Randal Grichuk started the eighth inning with a home run and Kyle Teel added a three-run blast later in the inning for the White Sox. Arkansas Online, 7 Sep. 2026 Maybe rookie Andrew Painter thrives in the bullpen and a veteran starter dominates for an inning or two on short rest. Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026 The Yankees’ offense, meanwhile, couldn’t muster anything against former employee Michael King over the first six innings. Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 6 Sep. 2026 Michael Busch followed with a strikeout on a pitch-clock violation for calling time a second time in the at-bat, then Alex Bregman hit into an inning-ending double play on the next pitch. Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 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 7 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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