Definition

1. Noun:
   • A period of batting in cricket or baseball: "innings" refers to the turn during which one side or one player bats in the games of cricket or baseball.
   • A period of opportunity or power: Figuratively, it can mean a period during which a person or group has the chance to achieve something or is in a position of influence.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The team's first innings lasted for over two hours. (The period during which the team batted was more than two hours long.)
  • He scored a century in a single innings. (He scored one hundred runs during his turn at batting.)
  • After the election, the new government began its innings. (The new government started its period in power.)

Advanced Usage

• To have a good/long innings: to have a long and successful period of activity, opportunity, or life.
  • He retired at 80; he had a good innings. (He had a long and successful career or life.)
• To declare an innings (closed): In cricket, for the captain to decide to end the team's turn at batting before all players are out.
  • The captain declared the innings to set up a challenging target. (The captain ended the batting period to try and win the match.)

Variants and Related Words

• Inning (noun): The singular form, primarily used in baseball to refer to one of the divisions of a game during which both teams have a turn at bat.
  • The game went into extra innings. (The game continued beyond the standard number of periods.)
• Innings defeat (noun phrase): In cricket, a defeat where the losing team is forced to follow on and loses without completing its second innings.
  • The team suffered a humiliating innings defeat. (The team lost by a very large margin.)

Synonyms

• Turn: a time or opportunity to do something, especially in a sequence.
• Bout: a short period of intense activity of a specified kind.
• Stint: a person's fixed or allotted period of work.

Related Phrases

• Play one's innings: to take one's turn or opportunity.
  • He played his innings well and secured the contract. (He used his opportunity effectively.)
• Innings break: the interval between two innings in a cricket match.
  • The players rested during the innings break. (The players rested between batting periods.)

Related Idioms

• A long innings: a long life or period of successful activity.
  • My grandfather had a long innings; he lived to be 95. (My grandfather had a very long life.)
• The innings of one's life: an exceptionally successful period or performance.
  • The batsman played the innings of his life to save the match. (The batsman had his best-ever performance.)

Noun

1. the batting turn of a cricket player or team