inning

American  

[in-ing] / ˈɪn ɪŋ /

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. (used with a singular verb) innings,

   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.

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inning British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of inning

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

Example Sentences

Trout almost ended the pitchers’ duel in the bottom of the sixth inning after sharply hitting a fly ball to left field but Arozarena tracked it down.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026

Champlin had a two-run triple in the first inning against Sides.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2026

The call ended the eighth inning with two runners on base and the Red Sox trailing by one run.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

Closer Malakye Matsumoto had a spectacular seventh inning to pick up the save, striking out all three batters.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026

In the last inning of the fifth game, Mabel shook Shirley like a bottle of catsup, shouting, “Do it again. Bust this one outta the park, Cookie!”

From "In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson" by Bette Bao Lord

Related Words

• round
• shot
• stint
• stretch