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

The Oilers became the first team in the NHL to dress a full-time emergency backup goalie, with Brett Epp sitting on the bench. — Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026

Miami-Dade voters picked two new judges and decided whether several other judges should retain their seats on the bench. — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 4 Nov. 2026

After their first year on the bench and at the end of every term, voters are asked to weigh in on whether a judge should be retained or removed from their position. — The Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 4 Nov. 2026

Fred Howey beat Amy Allin, a former prosecutor appointed by Abbott in 2025, for the bench in the 297th District Court. — Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Nov. 2026

Rhymes for the bench

• entrench
• retrench
• workbench
• clench
• drench
• quench
• stench
• tench
• trench
• wench
• wrench