inning

[ in-ing ]

noun

1. Baseball. a division of a game during which each team has an opportunity to score until three outs have been made against it.
2. a similar opportunity to score in certain other games, as horseshoes.
3. an opportunity for activity; a turn:

   Now the opposition will have its inning.

4. innings, (used with a singular verb)
   1. Cricket. a unit of play in which each team has a turn at bat, the turn of a team ending after ten players are put out or when the team declares.
   2. land reclaimed, especially from the sea.
5. the act of reclaiming marshy or flooded land.
6. enclosure, as of wasteland.
7. the gathering in of crops.

inning

/ ˈɪnɪŋ /

noun

1. baseball a division of the game consisting of a turn at bat and a turn in the field for each side
2. archaic.
   the reclamation of land from the sea

Word History and Origins

Origin of inning¹

before 900; Middle English inninge, Old English innung a getting in, equivalent to inn ( ian ) to go in + -ung -ing ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of inning¹

Old English innung a going in, from innian to go in

Example Sentences

Here’s our recommendation for budget-minded Dodger fan families: Your favorite players seldom play every day in spring training and, when they do, they usually play just a few innings.

From Los Angeles Times

In the bottom of the seventh inning with a runner on second in a tie game, Herbert hit a slow ground ball on what should have been a routine play.

From Los Angeles Times

There looked like being an element of symmetry to the innings before a late flurry from Joseph and Akeal Hosein ensured the hosts batted their overs to post a respectable total.

From BBC

England also did so much right for most of their bowling innings.

From BBC

While he’s had some durability issues in Japan, pitching more than 100 innings in just two of his four seasons, he had a 2.10 ERA while averaging 11.4 strikeouts per nine innings.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• round
• shot
• stint
• stretch