plural lobbies
1
: a corridor or hall connected with a larger room or series of rooms and used as a passageway or waiting room: such as
a
: an anteroom of a legislative chamber
especially
: one of two anterooms of a British parliamentary chamber to which members go to vote during a division
b
: a large hall serving as a foyer (as of a hotel or theater)
2
: a group of persons engaged in lobbying especially as representatives of a particular interest group
the gun lobby
the oil lobby
lobbied; lobbying
: to conduct activities aimed at influencing public officials and especially members of a legislative body on legislation
1
: to promote (something, such as a project) or secure the passage of (legislation) by influencing public officials
lobby a bill through Congress
2
: to attempt to influence or sway (someone, such as a public official) toward a desired action
lobbying senators for tax reform
lobbyer
noun
Synonyms
Examples of lobby in a Sentence
Noun
I'll meet you in the lobby after the show.
The proposed new law is supported by the oil lobby.
Verb
an organization that has been lobbying for reform of the tax laws
The health-care industry has lobbied against the proposal.
an organization that has been lobbying Congress for reform of the tax laws
a player who has lobbied hard to be included in the team's starting lineup
I lobbied our company for a new computer.
See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Kate Knibbs, WIRED, 22 Nov. 2023
One person was killed after a gunman opened fire in the lobby of a New Hampshire hospital on Friday, police said.
—Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 18 Nov. 2023
An Impressive New Gingerbread House The annual Disneyland larger-than-life gingerbread house has been created, once again, in the lobby of Disney's Grand California Hotel & Spa.
—Lindsay Kimble, Peoplemag, 18 Nov. 2023
Where to get your own kilt in Edinburgh Though Andy Fraser met me in the lobby of The Balmoral and chauffeured me to and from Kinloch Anderson, the tartan butler service is brand agnostic.
—Ross Kenneth Urken, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Nov. 2023
New Hampshire State Police fatally shot a man in the lobby of a psychiatric hospital on Friday afternoon, after the suspect allegedly shot and killed one person at the facility.
—Adam Sabes, Fox News, 17 Nov. 2023
That zeal was in stark contrast with the disappointment of a cluster of Oakland fans who waited in the lobby of the posh Arizona Biltmore, where the owners were meeting, and absorbed the news of the impending move.
—Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 16 Nov. 2023
In the lobby of the Peninsula Hong Kong, a group of Americans ponder the winter ski season.
—Christopher Cameron, Robb Report, 12 Nov. 2023
The lobby now has a full bar and dazzling dining area.
—Kathy A. McDonald, Variety, 31 Oct. 2023
Anne Branigin, Washington Post, 23 Nov. 2023
More than a president's wife, Rosalynn used her four years in Washington to lobby for change and maximize her slice of the bully pulpit.
—Kyler Alvord, Peoplemag, 22 Nov. 2023
And Washington has lobbied to have the Palestinian Authority govern Gaza at the end of the war, instead of subjecting it to a prolonged Israeli occupation.
—Maria Fantappie and Vali Nasr, Foreign Affairs, 20 Nov. 2023
Now platform workers are concerned that Uber is about to repeat past lobbying success in the EU by shaping the new platform work rules.
—WIRED, 20 Nov. 2023
In another positive sign for Johnson, lobbyists appeared eager to get in with him and fundraise, given his relative lack of connections to the lobbying world.
—Julia Johnson, Washington Examiner, 20 Nov. 2023
Going to protests or lobbying politicians isn’t everyone’s jam.
—Lizz Winstead, Rolling Stone, 19 Nov. 2023
Google has lobbied the Commission to regulate iMessage under the DMA.
—Rachyl Jones, Fortune, 16 Nov. 2023
State records indicate that a real estate concern hired Ms. Suggs, via an intermediary, to lobby the mayor’s office and the New York City Council on its behalf in 2022.
—Jeffery C. Mays, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2023
See More
Noun
On a Friday morning in October, in the lobby of a sleek San Francisco skyscraper, Matthew Butterick was headed toward the elevators when a security guard stopped him.
—Kate Knibbs, WIRED, 22 Nov. 2023
One person was killed after a gunman opened fire in the lobby of a New Hampshire hospital on Friday, police said.
—Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 18 Nov. 2023
An Impressive New Gingerbread House The annual Disneyland larger-than-life gingerbread house has been created, once again, in the lobby of Disney's Grand California Hotel & Spa.
—Lindsay Kimble, Peoplemag, 18 Nov. 2023
Where to get your own kilt in Edinburgh Though Andy Fraser met me in the lobby of The Balmoral and chauffeured me to and from Kinloch Anderson, the tartan butler service is brand agnostic.
—Ross Kenneth Urken, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Nov. 2023
New Hampshire State Police fatally shot a man in the lobby of a psychiatric hospital on Friday afternoon, after the suspect allegedly shot and killed one person at the facility.
—Adam Sabes, Fox News, 17 Nov. 2023
That zeal was in stark contrast with the disappointment of a cluster of Oakland fans who waited in the lobby of the posh Arizona Biltmore, where the owners were meeting, and absorbed the news of the impending move.
—Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 16 Nov. 2023
In the lobby of the Peninsula Hong Kong, a group of Americans ponder the winter ski season.
—Christopher Cameron, Robb Report, 12 Nov. 2023
The lobby now has a full bar and dazzling dining area.
—Kathy A. McDonald, Variety, 31 Oct. 2023
Verb
While Barrera’s fans had lobbied online for Ortega to walk away from the film in a show of solidarity, Deadline reported that the actress’s exit was discussed before the actors strike, which began in July.
—Anne Branigin, Washington Post, 23 Nov. 2023
More than a president's wife, Rosalynn used her four years in Washington to lobby for change and maximize her slice of the bully pulpit.
—Kyler Alvord, Peoplemag, 22 Nov. 2023
And Washington has lobbied to have the Palestinian Authority govern Gaza at the end of the war, instead of subjecting it to a prolonged Israeli occupation.
—Maria Fantappie and Vali Nasr, Foreign Affairs, 20 Nov. 2023
Now platform workers are concerned that Uber is about to repeat past lobbying success in the EU by shaping the new platform work rules.
—WIRED, 20 Nov. 2023
In another positive sign for Johnson, lobbyists appeared eager to get in with him and fundraise, given his relative lack of connections to the lobbying world.
—Julia Johnson, Washington Examiner, 20 Nov. 2023
Going to protests or lobbying politicians isn’t everyone’s jam.
—Lizz Winstead, Rolling Stone, 19 Nov. 2023
Google has lobbied the Commission to regulate iMessage under the DMA.
—Rachyl Jones, Fortune, 16 Nov. 2023
State records indicate that a real estate concern hired Ms. Suggs, via an intermediary, to lobby the mayor’s office and the New York City Council on its behalf in 2022.
—Jeffery C. Mays, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lobby.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Medieval Latin lobium gallery, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German louba porch
First Known Use
Noun
1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1820, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense
Articles Related to lobby
Dictionary Entries Near lobby
Cite this Entry
“Lobby.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lobby. Accessed 2 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
lobby
1 of 2 noun
lob·by
ˈläb-ē 
plural lobbies
1
: a hall or entry especially when large enough to serve as a waiting room
a hotel lobby
2
: a group of persons engaged in lobbying
the oil lobby
lobby
2 of 2 verb
lobbied; lobbying
: to try to influence public officials and especially members of a legislative body
Legal Definition
lobby
1 of 2 noun
lob·by
plural lobbies
: a group of persons engaged in lobbying especially as representatives of a particular interest group
lobby
2 of 2 verb
lobbied; lobbying
: to conduct activities aimed at influencing public officials and especially members of a legislative body on legislation
: to attempt to influence or sway (as a public official) toward a desired action
lobbyer
noun
lobbyist
noun
More from Merriam-Webster on lobby
Nglish: Translation of lobby for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of lobby for Arabic Speakers
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share