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

Zach Neto had two of the Angels’ four hits, and left-hander Yusei Kikuchi was charged with five runs and six hits while pitching into the sixth inning.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026

With two outs in the top of the seventh inning Sam Lakey hits a home run to give De La Salle 1-0 lead over Notre Dame.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2026

In the top of the first inning, he had a double.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2026

Matt Manzo had a home run in the first inning.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026

Four of their men had stood up to bat during the top half of the fourth inning, and they had got only a single on an error to first.

From "The Chosen" by Chaim Potok

Related Words

• round
• shot
• stint
• stretch