To lob means to throw or hit something in a high, gentle arc through the air. In tennis, a player might lob the ball over their opponent's head when they're standing too close to the net. In softball, you might lob the ball underhand to a younger player who's still learning to catch. The word suggests a slow, arcing path rather than a fast, straight throw.

Picture tossing a water balloon to a friend: you wouldn't hurl it with full force (unless you want it to explode on impact). Instead, you'd lob it gently upward so it floats through the air and lands softly in their hands. That high, easy curve is what makes something a lob.

The word can also mean to throw something casually or without much care, like lobbing a crumpled paper ball toward the recycling bin. In conversation, someone might lob a question at you, meaning they ask it in a casual, easygoing way, not as a serious challenge or test.