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)

Examples of inning in a Sentence

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.
After coming out of Atlanta really late, getting in in the early morning hours here, rain delay (Thursday) and lost our starter after three innings. Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 10 Aug. 2026 Drew Rasmussen, who missed most of 2023, much of 2024 and was capped at 150 innings in 2025, is also 36 innings shy of his career high, which was last season. Tom Layberger, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026 The Sunday afternoon crowd thinned out by the time the bottom of the 10th inning rolled around at Oracle Park. Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 9 Aug. 2026 The Braves won for the ninth time in 11 games after getting dominated by Schlittler, who allowed Olson’s 34th homer among three hits in seven innings. ABC News, 9 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for inning

Word History

Etymology

in entry 2 + -ing entry 1

First Known Use

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 12 Aug. 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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