lob
1 Americanverb (used with object)
-
lobs,
present (3rd person singular)
-
lobbed,
past participle, past
-
lobbing
present participle
-
Tennis. to hit (a ball) in a high arc to the back of the opponent's court.
-
to fire (a missile, as a shell) in a high trajectory so that it drops onto a target.
-
Cricket. to bowl (the ball) with a slow underhand motion.
-
to throw (something) slowly in an arc.
verb (used without object)
-
lobs,
present (3rd person singular)
-
lobbed,
past participle, past
-
lobbing
present participle
noun
-
Tennis. a ball hit in a high arc to the back of the opponent's court.
-
Cricket. a ball bowled with a slow underhand motion.
-
British Dialect. a slow, heavy, dull-witted person.
noun
noun
-
a ball struck in a high arc
-
cricket a ball bowled in a slow high arc
verb
-
to hit or kick (a ball) in a high arc
-
informal to throw, esp in a high arc
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
lobsimple
-
lobssimple
-
have lobbedperfect
-
has lobbedperfect
-
am lobbingprogressive
-
are lobbingprogressive
-
is lobbingprogressive
-
have been lobbingperfect progressive
-
has been lobbingperfect progressive
Past
-
lobbedsimple
-
had lobbedperfect
-
was lobbingprogressive
-
were lobbingprogressive
-
had been lobbingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of lob
1325–75; in earlier sense, to behave like a lob ( Middle English lobbe, lob bumpkin, clumsy person, originally pollack; Old English: spider; basic sense, something pendulous); cognate with Middle Low German, Middle Dutch lobbe dangling part, stockfish, etc.
Explanation
When you lob something, you throw it up very high. If you lob a baseball from the outfield to the pitcher, you hurl it in an arc that ends right where the pitcher can catch it. If you propel an object in an arc, you lob it. For example, a soldier might lob a missile at the enemy. Tennis players can lob a ball by hitting it up and over the net. Today the noun lob means a throw (or hit) that follows an arc, but in the 14th century a lob was a "lazy lout," and in the 16th century it was "a lumpish thing."
Vocabulary lists containing lob
The Smashing Lexicon of Tennis
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Wild Robot
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Heat
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
His high-profile targets went on to include the future French president Nicolas Sarkozy in 1997 -- although in that case he had an accomplice lob the actual pie for fear of being recognised.
From Barron's ● Aug. 24, 2026
Were the Dallas Mavericks banking on lob threat Derrick Jones Jr. — on a minimum contract — being a catalyst for their run to the 2024 NBA Finals?
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
“No one has a right to lob unfounded accusations without a response. Director Patel, as well as any Trump administration official, has a right to defend themselves,” the FBI said in a statement.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
Playing with variety and spin, Chwalinska can lob, drop shot and moonball her opponents to distraction, but she can also hit with pace to finish off points quickly.
From BBC ● Jun. 4, 2026
I grab a pair of balled socks from the clean-clothes basket and lob it at her head.
From "Odd One Out" by Nic Stone
The rally - full of extraordinary drop shots, lobs and smashes - will take some beating this year.
From BBC ● Mar. 12, 2026
The 41-year-old James put on a show, throwing down lobs for dunks, drawing cheers and applause from the fans inside Capital One Arena.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 30, 2026
He then dominated the tie-break, capitalising on a run of backhand errors from Alcaraz and executing a couple of pinpoint lobs, to seal the first set.
From BBC ● Nov. 16, 2025
The Lakers see Ayton as a lob threat alongside Doncic, which worked well in Phoenix when Chris Paul was throwing lobs to Ayton when they reached the NBA Finals.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 2, 2025
He turns, lifts the cup into the air, and lobs it into the garbage can.
From "Shouting at the Rain" by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
James showed flashes of quality and nonchalantly lobbed goalkeeper Fafailia Petaloti from 30 yards in the first half, but her effort was ruled out for offside.
From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026
Their comments, in many ways, sought to address the criticism that has been lobbed at the museum since it held its press preview a few weeks back.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 20, 2026
Warsh, who has proposed fewer annual Fed meetings and dispensing with regular news conferences entirely, flew through the queries lobbed by reporters.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026
Sticking to largely sycophantic media who lobbed softball questions hardened his ceiling.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 10, 2026
Jeremiah scored again, and late in the second half, Bien lobbed a cross across the face of the goal.
From "Outcasts United: An American Town, a Refugee Team, and One Woman's Quest to Make a Difference" by Warren St. John
It’s easy to be the candidate lobbing criticisms, or even the defense lawyer arguing the facts.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 28, 2026
Nicknamed "the Glooper" for his cries of "Gloop! Gloop!" after each strike, Godin spent more than three decades lobbing pies at rich and famous targets he felt needed bringing down a notch.
From Barron's ● Aug. 24, 2026
But so far she hasn’t stumped for him, instead lobbing veiled criticisms of Talarico’s efforts to win over Black voters.
From Slate ● Aug. 14, 2026
One video, which his campaign said neither he nor formal surrogates made, portrayed him as Batman lobbing tomatoes at Bass, who was dressed as the Joker.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 9, 2026
Below, the coach started lobbing fungoes into the field.
From "Pax" by Sara Pennypacker
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
