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noun Uncommon

inning

IH-nihng
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Inning (noun) means In baseball, one round in which each team gets a turn to bat, ending after three outs on each side. Example: “The home team scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning.”

noun
1
In baseball, one round in which each team gets a turn to bat, ending after three outs on each side.
"The home team scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning."
"The pitcher struggled in the first inning but settled down later."
"We stayed until the seventh inning, then left to catch our train."
2
A chance to do or achieve something.
"He finally got his inning to prove himself at the new job."
"After years on the bench, it was finally her inning to lead the project."
"The others have all had a go, so now it is your inning."

How to use inning

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishOne of the numbered rounds that make up a baseball game — American English typically uses "inning" for one round and "innings" as the plural.

UK vs US

In cricket (mainly UK/Commonwealth), "innings" is used for both singular and plural; in baseball (US), "inning" is singular and "innings" is plural.

Common pairings
ninth inning bottom of the inning extra innings
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Word forms

Plural
innings
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The home team scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth _____.

Etymology

A back-formation from innings, mistakenly treated as if the -s were a plural ending rather than part of the original word.

Synonyms

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turn round at-bat frame

Related words

go around put play become body turn shot

Rhymes for inning

winning sinning pinning twinning spinning grinning thinning skinning beginning
See all rhymes for inning →

Frequently asked questions

What does “inning” mean?
The word “inning” means in baseball, one round in which each team gets a turn to bat, ending after three outs on each side. In plain terms, one of the numbered rounds that make up a baseball game — American English typically uses "inning" for one round and "innings" as the plural.
How do you pronounce “inning”?
“Inning” is pronounced IH-nihng (/ˈɪnɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “inning” in a sentence?
Here is “inning” used in a sentence: “The home team scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning.”
What part of speech is “inning”?
“Inning” is a noun.
Is “inning” a common word?
“Inning” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “inning” have?
“Inning” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in baseball, one round in which each team gets a turn to bat, ending after three outs on each side.
What is the difference between an inning in baseball and an innings in cricket?
In baseball, an inning is one round in which each team gets a turn to bat, ending after three outs per side, and games typically consist of nine innings. Cricket uses the related but distinct term "innings," which is both singular and plural and refers to a team's entire turn at batting, which can last much longer.
What does it mean to get your inning at something?
Used figuratively, an inning can mean a chance to do or achieve something, similar to getting your turn or opportunity. For example, "everyone gets their inning" suggests each person eventually gets a fair shot.
How many innings are in a standard baseball game?
A standard baseball game consists of nine innings, with each team batting once per inning until three outs are recorded against them.

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