bench

noun \ ˈbench \

Updated on: 11 Apr 2018

Definition of bench

1 a : a long seat for two or more persons

b : a thwart in a boat

c (1) : a seat on which the members of an athletic team await a turn or opportunity to play

(2) : the reserve players on a team; broadly : a reserve force

2 a : the seat where a judge sits in court

b : the place where justice is administered : court

c : the office or dignity of a judge

sat on the bench for 20 years

d : the persons who sit as judges

3 a : the office or dignity of an official

b : a seat for an official

c : the officials occupying a bench

4 a : a long worktable; also : laboratory

bench chemist

bench test

b : a table forming part of a machine

5 : terrace, shelf: such as

a : a former wave-cut shore of a sea or lake or floodplain of a river

b : a shelf or ridge formed in working an open excavation on more than one level

6 : a compartmented platform on which dogs or cats are kept at a show when not being judged

See bench defined for English-language learners

See bench defined for kids

Examples of bench in a Sentence

The lawyer asked if he could approach the bench.
her recent appointment to the bench

Recent Examples of bench from the Web

Robert Acri, 61, was found not guilty on all counts in a bench trial before DuPage County Judge Robert Miller, who dismissed the case Thursday at the conclusion of the prosecution’s case.

— clifford ward, chicagotribune.com, "DuPage judge finds Winnetka financial adviser not guilty of misleading clients," 6 Apr. 2018
But Michigan’s own bench player Jordan Poole answers to give Michigan an 18-14 lead with 12 minutes left in the half.

— zach schonbrun, New York Times, "Juggernaut Villanova Crushes Michigan to Win N.C.A.A. Championship," 3 Apr. 2018
There was a bench player nicknamed the Big Ragu and the Michael Jordan of Delaware scoring a career-high 31 points and winking at a former teammate in the stands.

— dan greene, SI.com, "Villanova's Dominance Proves the Power of a Well-Built Program," 3 Apr. 2018
Points from Michigan's bench players — just freshman Jordan Poole, actually — in the first half.

— ryan ford, Detroit Free Press, "Michigan basketball: NCAA title game by the numbers," 2 Apr. 2018
No Blazers' bench player logged a positive plus-minus.

— joe freeman, OregonLive.com, "Portland Trail Blazers 'not done yet' after clinching spot in Western Conference playoffs," 2 Apr. 2018
The bench trial for the case began on March 12, and may have long-lasting consequences for the future of drug testing.

— ellen airhart, WIRED, "The Hairy Problem With Drug Testing," 1 Apr. 2018
The buzzer sounded; the Loyola bench players and cheerleaders charged the court.

— sean gregory, Time, "How Loyola Chicago’s Basketball Team Shattered a Racial Barrier for Black Athletes 55 Years Ago," 30 Mar. 2018
Brinson is 23, Anderson 24, while Wallach, the son of bench coach Tim Wallach, is 26.

— craig davis, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Marlins have 12 first-timers on Opening Day roster; Cooper takes Stanton's place in right," 29 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bench.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of bench

Middle English, from Old English benc; akin to Old High German bank bench

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

bench Synonyms

Synonyms

bar, court, forum, tribunal;

high court, supreme court;

court-martial, drumhead court-martial;

inquisition, kangaroo court;

Phrases

court of law;

bench

verb

Definition of bench

transitive verb

1 : to furnish with benches

2 a : to seat on a bench

b (1) : to remove from or keep out of a game; broadly : to remove from use or from a position

(2) : to remove from the starting lineup

3 : to exhibit (dogs or cats) to the public on a bench

4 : to lift (a weight) in a bench press

bench 200 pounds

intransitive verb

: to form a bench by natural processes

See bench defined for English-language learners

Examples of bench in a Sentence

The manager benched one of his most popular players.

Recent Examples of bench from the Web

Darryl, Fitzgerald, Ga. A: Erik has benched some of the best players at times throughout his career, even Chris Bosh.

— ira winderman, Sun-Sentinel.com, "ASK IRA: Have Heat, Whiteside reached a breaking point?," 1 Apr. 2018
Sign: Sagittarius Reign, metaphorically benched in every conversation surrounding the Kardashian/Jenner offspring but far and away the family’s most valuable player, is my favorite child in Calabasas.

— mariah smith, The Cut, "Introducing the Kardashian Cousin Compatibility Chart," 28 Mar. 2018
Team Sky, however, has rejected calls to bench its top racer.

— aaron gulley, Outside Online, "Will the Tour de France Really Bar Froome?," 27 Mar. 2018
Think about it this way, when a player isn't performing on the field or on the court, a good coach benches him.

— Fox News, "Is Pennsylvania special election a bellwether for midterms?," 14 Mar. 2018
Defender Walker Zimmerman, the player who was pulled from Sunday's starting lineup just minutes before kickoff, was benched with a tight hamstring.

— kevin baxter, latimes.com, "Laurent Ciman anchors LAFC's back line while Bob Bradley waits on return of injured players," 8 Mar. 2018
Buycks back Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy relented and benched struggling veteran Jameer Nelson, replacing him with Dwight Buycks at backup point guard.

— vince ellis, Detroit Free Press, "Detroit Pistons lose 3rd straight, crushed by Toronto Raptors 123-94," 26 Feb. 2018
Later, after breaking team rules in December, Buccaneers coach Dirk Koetter benched Martin for a Week 15 loss against the Atlanta Falcons.

— lorenzo reyes, USA TODAY, "Doug Martin released by Tampa Bay Buccaneers," 20 Feb. 2018
Bill Belichick saw it, too, and benched Butler in Week 2.

— albert breer, SI.com, "In Super Bowl 52, No One Has More on the Line Than Malcolm Butler," 4 Feb. 2018

First Known Use of bench

1598

Bench

biographical name \ ˈbench \

Definition of Bench

Johnny (Lee) 1947– American baseball player

BENCH Defined for English Language Learners

bench

noun

Definition of bench for English Language Learners

: a long and usually hard seat for two or more people
the bench law : the place where a judge sits in a court of law
: the position or rank of a judge

bench

verb

Definition of bench for English Language Learners

sports : to not allow (a player) to play in a game : to put (a player) on the bench

BENCH Defined for Kids

bench

noun \ ˈbench \

Definition of bench for Students

1 : a long seat for two or more persons

a park bench

2 : a long table for holding work and tools

a carpenter's bench

3 : the position or rank of a judge

Law Dictionary

bench

noun

legal Definition of bench

1 : the place where a judge sits in court

asked counsel to approach the bench

— compare bar 1a, dock, jury box, sidebar, stand

2 : the court or system of courts serving an area

the federal bench

3 a : the office of a judge

appointed to the bench

b : the body of persons who hold positions as judges

members of the bench and bar

— compare bar 2a

c : a judge or panel of judges hearing a case

unless the lawyer is responding to a question from the bench
—R. H. Bork

Learn More about bench

See words that rhyme with bench Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for bench Spanish Central: Translation of bench Nglish: Translation of bench for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of bench for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bench

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bench

Definition of bench

Examples of bench in a Sentence

Recent Examples of bench from the Web

Origin and Etymology of bench

bench Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Phrases

bench

Definition of bench

Examples of bench in a Sentence

Recent Examples of bench from the Web

First Known Use of bench

Bench

Definition of Bench

Phrases Related to BENCH

Related Phrases

BENCH Defined for English Language Learners

bench

Definition of bench for English Language Learners

bench

Definition of bench for English Language Learners

BENCH Defined for Kids

bench

Definition of bench for Students

Law Dictionary

bench

legal Definition of bench

Learn More about bench

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