the bench
noun
1
law
: the place where a judge sits in a court of law
The lawyer asked if he could approach the bench.
2
: a long seat where the members of a sports team wait during a game for a chance to play
He spent most of his season on the bench.
He plays better coming off the bench.
Examples of the bench in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
After making his way back to the bench early in the fourth, Wagner was considered questionable to return due to a right calf strain.
—
Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2026
Rebuffed by Cora, the Phillies looked down the bench to Don Mattingly.
—Dan Gelston, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026
But when Griffin checked in off the bench during the matchup against the Washington Mystics, there was no sign of rust.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2026
Slegers spent the final few minutes of the game summoning all her tallest players from the bench, in order to guard against a OL Lyonnes aerial bombardment that never quite arrived.
—Michael Cox, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the bench
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2026
Rebuffed by Cora, the Phillies looked down the bench to Don Mattingly.
—Dan Gelston, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026
But when Griffin checked in off the bench during the matchup against the Washington Mystics, there was no sign of rust.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2026
Slegers spent the final few minutes of the game summoning all her tallest players from the bench, in order to guard against a OL Lyonnes aerial bombardment that never quite arrived.
—Michael Cox, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the bench
Cite this Entry
“The bench.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20bench. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
