Standard Lemma guide

ninth-inning

adj · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

adj

Meaning 1

Happening in the ninth inning of a baseball game.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: ball-games, baseball, games, hobbies, lifestyle, sports

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Happening as late as possible, eleventh-hour.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • 1921. Kenneth D. Cassidy, "Teaching Truck Salesmanship", Michigan Manufacturer & Financial Record. The result has been that some truck manufacturers already have gone into bankruptcy, while many are making a ninth-inning attempt at re-organization in a desperate attempt to ward off failure.
  • 2011, November 11. Krystal Peak, "Zynga wants stock back, calls company meritocracy", Vator News. But we can chalk a lot of this ninth-inning scramble to the fact that Zynga issued 33 million in new stock for the 2010, which was just too much to offer out so early in the game.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

In baseball, the ninth inning is the last period of the game.