join a lobby

Meaning

To enter a digital waiting area or matchmaking room in a multiplayer video game before the match starts. This is a common, casual term used by gamers when grouping up with friends.

Examples

• Send me an invite so I can join a lobby with you guys.

  Send me an invite so I can join a lobby with you guys.

• I tried to join a lobby, but the game server was completely full.

  I tried to join a lobby, but the game server was completely full.

• Once you join a lobby, make sure to click 'ready' so we can start.

  Once you join a lobby, make sure to click 'ready' so we can start.

• It took us ten minutes just to join a lobby because of my slow internet.

  It took us ten minutes just to join a lobby because of my slow internet.

• He's waiting for his friends to join a lobby before searching for a match.

  He's waiting for his friends to join a lobby before searching for a match.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I entered to the lobby.

  ✓ I joined the lobby.

  In gaming, you 'join a lobby' or 'join the lobby' directly. Do not use 'enter to' or 'join to'.

• ✗ Wait for me, I am joining a lobby room.

  ✓ Wait for me, I am joining the lobby.

  Adding 'room' is redundant because 'lobby' already implies the online waiting area in a gaming context.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Can you send me a game invite? I want to ___.

  💡 Enter the waiting area of a multiplayer game.

  Show answer

  join a lobby

• We can't start the match until everyone manages to ___.

  💡 Get into the game's pre-match room.

  Show answer

  join a lobby