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
Hyde hoped Mountcastle would be available off the bench Saturday, but he wasn’t needed in the blowout victory.
—
Jacob Calvin Meyer, Baltimore Sun, 17 Sep. 2023
That happened, and Buchner was the first off the bench for the Tide, rushing for a touchdown in the 56-7 victory.
—Matt Stahl | Mstahl@al.com, al, 15 Sep. 2023
The popular forward will replace JD Pollock as director of player development, but his role also will include being a ‘big brother’ given his close ties to the players
Basketball players who become coaches talk about a sometimes awkward transition from the court to the bench.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Sep. 2023
The recusal motion from Trump’s lawyers takes aim at U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, a former assistant public defender who was nominated to the bench by President Barack Obama and has stood out as one of the toughest punishers of Jan. 6 defendants.
—Eric Tucker and Alanna Durkin Richer, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2023
The recusal motion from Trump’s lawyers takes aim at U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, a former assistant public defender who was nominated to the bench by President Barack Obama and has since stood out as one of the toughest punishers of Jan. 6 defendants.
—Eric Tucker and Alanna Durkin Richer, BostonGlobe.com, 11 Sep. 2023
The report and its follow-ups have also documented the lack of professional diversity on the bench.
—Aaron Mendelson, USA TODAY, 7 Sep. 2023
How to Do It: Lie down on the bench with your feet flat on the ground.
—Cori Ritchey, Men's Health, 31 Aug. 2023
Barrett and the rest of the bench filed their financial disclosures in mid-May, but Alito and Thomas sought extensions until mid-August.
—John Fritze, USA TODAY, 30 Aug. 2023
See More
Jacob Calvin Meyer, Baltimore Sun, 17 Sep. 2023
That happened, and Buchner was the first off the bench for the Tide, rushing for a touchdown in the 56-7 victory.
—Matt Stahl | Mstahl@al.com, al, 15 Sep. 2023
The popular forward will replace JD Pollock as director of player development, but his role also will include being a ‘big brother’ given his close ties to the players
Basketball players who become coaches talk about a sometimes awkward transition from the court to the bench.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Sep. 2023
The recusal motion from Trump’s lawyers takes aim at U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, a former assistant public defender who was nominated to the bench by President Barack Obama and has stood out as one of the toughest punishers of Jan. 6 defendants.
—Eric Tucker and Alanna Durkin Richer, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2023
The recusal motion from Trump’s lawyers takes aim at U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, a former assistant public defender who was nominated to the bench by President Barack Obama and has since stood out as one of the toughest punishers of Jan. 6 defendants.
—Eric Tucker and Alanna Durkin Richer, BostonGlobe.com, 11 Sep. 2023
The report and its follow-ups have also documented the lack of professional diversity on the bench.
—Aaron Mendelson, USA TODAY, 7 Sep. 2023
How to Do It: Lie down on the bench with your feet flat on the ground.
—Cori Ritchey, Men's Health, 31 Aug. 2023
Barrett and the rest of the bench filed their financial disclosures in mid-May, but Alito and Thomas sought extensions until mid-August.
—John Fritze, USA TODAY, 30 Aug. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'the bench.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near the bench
Cite this Entry
“The bench.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20bench. Accessed 21 Sep. 2023.
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