lob

1 of 3

noun (1)

Synonyms of lobnext
dialectal British
: a dull heavy person : lout

lob

2 of 3

verb

lobbed; lobbing

transitive verb

1
: to let hang heavily : droop
2
: to throw, hit, or propel easily or in a high arc
3
: to direct (something, such as a question or comment) so as to elicit a response

intransitive verb

1
a
: to move slowly and heavily
b
: to move in an arc
2
: to hit a tennis ball easily in a high arc

lob

3 of 3

noun (2)

: a soft high-arching shot, throw, or kick

Examples of lob in a Sentence

Verb She lobbed a throw to the pitcher. The soldier lobbed a grenade into the bunker. He lobbed the ball over his opponent's head.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Suigo is massive, gobbles up the ball at the rim on defense and would offer a true lob threat that the Bulls have been missing. Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2026 Chwalińska, one step ahead, was waiting to hoist up a lob. Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 4 June 2026
Verb
Lampard’s non-goal England were 2-1 down to Germany in the last 16 of the 2010 World Cup, Lampard lobbed goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, the ball bounced off the underside of the bar and landed well behind the goal line. Tim Spiers, New York Times, 3 June 2026 Hooliganism, at first observed in British fans, has intensified since the 1960s, and numerous matches have been canceled because of fans invading the pitch, lobbing fireworks, and setting off flares. Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for lob

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

probably of Low German origin; akin to Low German lubbe coarse person

Verb

lob a loosely hanging object

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1533, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1599, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (2)

1883, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lob was in 1533

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lob.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lob. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

lob

1 of 2 verb
lobbed; lobbing
: to send (as a ball) in a high arc by hitting or throwing easily

lob

2 of 2 noun
: a lobbed throw or shot (as in tennis)

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