Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense lobbies, present participle lobbying, past tense, past participle lobbied
1. verb
If you lobby someone such as a member of a government or council, you try to persuade them that a particular law should be changed or that a particular thing should be done.
Carers from all over the U.K. lobbied Parliament last week to demand a better financialdeal. [VERB noun]
Gun control advocates are lobbying hard for new laws. [VERB + for]
The union has attacked the plan and threatened to lobby against it. [Vfor/against n]
It must be terribly frustrating to lobby and get absolutely nowhere. [VERB]
[Also V + against]
Synonyms: campaign, press, pressure, push More Synonyms of lobby
lobbyinguncountable noun
The aid was frozen in June after intense lobbying by conservative Republicans. [+ by]
2. countable noun
A lobby is a group of people who represent a particular organization or campaign, and try to persuade a government or council to help or support them.
Agricultural interests are some of the most powerful lobbies in Washington.
He set up this lobby of independent producers. [+ of]
...the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights, a housing lobby group.
Synonyms: pressure group, group, camp, faction More Synonyms of lobby
3. countable noun
In a hotel or other large building, the lobby is the area near the entrance that usually has corridors and staircases leading off it.
I met her in the lobby of the museum. [+ of]
Synonyms: corridor, hall, passage, entrance More Synonyms of lobby
lobby in British English
(ˈlɒbɪ)
nounWord forms: plural-bies
1.
a room or corridor used as an entrance hall, vestibule, etc
2. mainly British
a hall in a legislative building used for meetings between the legislators and members of the public
3. Also called: division lobby mainly British
one of two corridors in a legislative building in which members vote
4.
a group of persons who attempt to influence legislators on behalf of a particular interest
verbWord forms: -bies, -bying or -bied
5.
to attempt to influence (legislators, etc) in the formulation of policy
6. (intransitive)
to act in the manner of a lobbyist
7. (transitive)
to apply pressure or influence for the passage of (a bill, etc)
Derived forms
lobbyer (ˈlobbyer)
noun
Word origin
C16: from Medieval Latin lobia portico, from Old High German lauba arbor, from laub leaf
lobby in American English
(ˈlɑbi)
nounWord forms: pluralˈlobbies
1.
a hall or large anteroom, as a waiting room or vestibule of an apartment house, hotel, theater, etc.
2.
a large hall adjacent to the assembly hall of a legislature and open to the public
3. US
a group of lobbyists representing the same special interest
the oil lobby
verb intransitiveWord forms: ˈlobbied or ˈlobbying US
4.
to act as a lobbyist
5.
to attempt to influence a public official in favor of something
often with for
verb transitive US
6.
to attempt to influence (a public official) by acting as a lobbyist
7.
to attempt to influence the passage of (a measure) by acting as a lobbyist
Word origin
LL lobia: see UNRESOLVED CROSS REF
lobby in Hospitality
(lɒbi)
Word forms: (plural) lobbies
noun
(Hospitality (hotel): General)
In a hotel or other large building, the lobby is the area near the entrance that usually has corridors and staircases leading offit.
In the hotel lobby you'll find an inviting sitting area next to reception.
Have a seat in the lobby and I'll fetch you when the cab arrives.
I greeted guests in the lobby of the hotel.
Examples of 'lobby' in a sentence
lobby
The lobby group said that three quarters of ingredient prices were rising as a result of weak sterling.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Business lobby groups have been lukewarm, loading their approval with a string of caveats.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
An investigation by the consumer lobby group Which?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The officials know that a cosy relationship with such lobby groups leads to an easier life and more certain promotion than standing up for the taxpayer.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
When vocal lobby groups make claims about the contamination of the environment from fracking, it is hard to face down public pressure.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The president-elect wants to put into law a five-year ban on officials lobbying former colleagues and a lifetime ban on lobbying on behalf of foreign governments.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They include tighter controls on lobbying and declaring outside interests.
The Sun (2014)
Another lobbying group riding another hobby horse?
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
It is understood that the council has been lobbying the government for help to fund tougher enforcement.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Gatwick is to redouble its campaign to lobby the government over the coming weeks and months.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The link section would be demolished and replaced with a structurally glazed glass lobby area.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Unions there have already begun lobbying against the deal because of concerns about job losses.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
He was cleared of lobbying for one.
The Sun (2013)
They are often fronts for lobbying interests such as the alcohol or healthcare industries or foreign governments.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
It is surely time to form an apolitical national group to lobby government on behalf of savers.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Are they likely to lobby for one?
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The vested interests lobbying for money for their pet projects.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Such interests not only lobby government but control and organize important areas of social life independently of government.
Hirst, Paul After Thatcher (1989)
We have also been part of a national campaign lobbying for a reduction in the price of away tickets.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The doctor was seen in the building 's lobby afterwards.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It's been highly contested by a lot of powerful people lobbying around the area.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
A climbing wall has been installed in the lobby of his building.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Police held about 50 demonstrators in the lobby of the building before allowing them to leave in small numbers.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The lobby group aims to spread beyond banking and plans to draft in high-profile executives from other industries to its advisory board.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
I can see why the government and lobby groups have gone for a zero-tolerance policy on cigarettes.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The industry has already begun lobbying to have aid extended well beyond 2014 because the building costs are so much higher than for conventional power plants.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
A As with all these things, lobby your local council.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
In other languages
lobby
British English: lobby VERB
If you lobby someone such as a member of a government or council, you try to persuade them that a particular law should be changed or that a particular thing should be done.
They lobbied the government last week to demand a better financial deal.
They have lobbied hard for new laws.
American English: lobby
Brazilian Portuguese: pressionar
Chinese: 游说
European Spanish: presionar
French: faire pression sur
German: Einfluss nehmen auf
Italian: fare pressione su
Japanese: 働きかける
Korean: 로비하다
European Portuguese: pressionar
Latin American Spanish: presionar
British English: lobby NOUN
people A lobby is a group of people who represent a particular organization or campaign, and try to persuade a government or council to help or support them.
Agricultural interests are some of the most powerful lobbies.
American English: lobby
Brazilian Portuguese: grupo de pressão
Chinese: 游说团体
European Spanish: grupo de presión
French: lobby
German: Lobby
Italian: lobby
Japanese: 圧力団体
Korean: 로비 단체
European Portuguese: grupo de pressão
Latin American Spanish: grupo de presión
British English: lobby NOUN
hotel In a hotel or other large building, the lobby is the area near the entrance that usually has corridors and staircases leading off it.