lobbied

USAGE SUMMARY

"lobbied" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It means to try to influence a decision, typically by making representations to those in authority. For example: "The environmental group lobbied the city council to pass a ban on single-use plastics."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Opinion

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Yes, I had concerns about Mr Obeid's son working for the company … yes, I was lobbied, but that's the nature of being premier, people lobby the premier, it doesn't mean they get what they want".

The Guardian

Often ostensibly secular and radically libertarian, for decades they have lobbied to turn public education – currently an $85bn federal operation – into an industrial complex.

The Guardian

Last week several of the 14 lobbied the Irish parliament over the case.

The Guardian

We have talked, we have held meetings with ministers, we have attended roadshows, we have petitioned, lobbied, written, and we have provided evidence and analysis.

The Guardian - Opinion

Keneally faced the Independent Commission Against Corruption to give evidence on how she was lobbied while premier to approve a plan for Australian Water Holdings to enter a public-private partnership with the state government.

The Guardian

This has lobbied for more "insurance-based private funding" in the health service.

The Guardian

"You may remember me from my time as Minister of State for Transport," wrote Stephen Ladyman as he lobbied a potential government client in his new role as a paid adviser to a transport company.

The Guardian

Since Johnson arrived at the IFS at the start of 2011, he says he has been lobbied perhaps a couple of times a year by each of the parties.

The Guardian

New Scottish National party MPs are being lobbied by voters in the rest of the UK who are promising to holiday in Scotland and buy more whisky if they vote against the repeal of the hunting ban.

The Guardian

But when the Qatari minister for labour visited Kathmandu in April, he was lobbied by Nepalese officials to implement better insurance policies and require employers to pay any fees illegally charged by recruitment agencies.

The Guardian

While the Scotch Whisky Association had waged a substantial lobbying campaign to get the duty cut by 2p, Osborne was also lobbied directly by retiring Lib Dem MP Sir Malcolm Bruce and his successor Christine Jardine, who is attempting to hold onto Bruce's seat of Gordon against a potent challenge from Salmond.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "lobbied", specify who was lobbied and what the desired outcome was for clarity. For example: "The company lobbied the senators for tax breaks."

Common error

Avoid using "lobbied" when the action is simply providing information. Lobbying implies an active attempt to influence a decision, not just informing it. For example, providing information on a policy is not lobbying unless there's a clear attempt to sway the decision-maker.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "lobbied" is as the past tense and past participle of the verb "lobby". As such, it describes an action that has already taken place—the act of attempting to influence a decision, typically a political one. Ludwig and the examples show "lobbied" being used to describe actions taken by individuals, organizations, and even governments.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Opinion

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "lobbied" is the past tense of the verb "lobby", and it signifies an attempt to influence decisions, policies, or opinions, particularly those of government officials or organizations. According to Ludwig, the term is considered grammatically correct and widely used. Analysis of real-world examples reveals that it is frequently employed in news and media, formal business contexts, and scientific discussions.

While "lobbied" is generally appropriate for neutral to formal registers, it's essential to specify who was lobbied and the intended outcome for clarity. As an alternative, you might consider similar terms such as ""advocated for"", "campaigned for", or "influenced", depending on the nuance you wish to convey. Understanding the scope and connotations of "lobbied" will ensure its effective and accurate use in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Advocated for

Focuses on public support and promotion of a cause, shifting from direct influence to broader encouragement.

Pushed for

Implies a strong effort and determination to achieve a specific outcome, suggesting more forcefulness than simply "lobbied".

Campaigned for

Involves organized and sustained efforts, often in a public or political context, differing from individual attempts at influence.

Pressed for

Highlights the persistent and insistent nature of the effort to influence, suggesting more urgency than "lobbied".

Influenced

A more general term for affecting a decision or outcome, lacking the specific connotation of direct advocacy.

Sought to persuade

Emphasizes the attempt to convince someone, rather than the act of lobbying itself, focusing on changing opinions.

Made representations to

A more formal and diplomatic way of describing the act of presenting arguments to influence decisions.

Worked to convince

Highlights the effort involved in changing someone's mind, suggesting a more gradual and relational approach.

Appealed to

Suggests an emotional or moral argument, rather than a strategic effort to influence.

Exerted pressure on

Implies a more forceful and potentially coercive approach than "lobbied", suggesting a less subtle influence.

FAQs

How do I use "lobbied" in a sentence?

Use "lobbied" to describe an attempt to influence decisions, typically of government officials or organizations. For example, "The organization "lobbied" the committee to change the regulations."

What's the difference between "lobbied" and "advocated"?

"Lobbied" often implies direct communication with decision-makers to influence a specific outcome, while "advocated" ("advocated for") suggests broader public support for a cause.

What can I say instead of "lobbied"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like ""advocated for"", "campaigned for", or "influenced".

Is "lobbied" a formal or informal word?

"Lobbied" is suitable for neutral to formal contexts, such as news reports, business communications, and academic writing.