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
Because within Paye and so many others on the bench, remnants of VanDerveer’s DNA will remain all over the program.
—
Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 11 Apr. 2024
His numbers dipped in two years with the Aztecs, off the bench in 2022-23 and as a starter last season: 8.4 points and 38.5 percent (32.0 percent on 3s).
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Apr. 2024
Those two games as a reserve marked Herro’s first time playing off the bench since the 2022 playoffs — the same season that he was named the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2024
The man who inked the largest contract in franchise history until LaMelo Ball took the crown with his max rookie extension was back in the building, affixed in a familiar place for the anticipated homecoming: on the bench in street clothes.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 8 Apr. 2024
Both teams are relying on their starters with the bench players contributing 3 points for each team.
—Will Ujek, NBC News, 6 Apr. 2024
By then, the game was out of reach at 61-37, and head coach Dawn Staley kept Cardoso on the bench for the fourth quarter.
—Jill Martin, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024
Magistrate judges tend to serve smaller counties in Kansas and face less strenuous requirements to sit on the bench.
—Katie Bernard, Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2024
Bryant closed Sunday’s victory with four points, three rebounds and one block in 10 minutes off the bench.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2024
Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 11 Apr. 2024
His numbers dipped in two years with the Aztecs, off the bench in 2022-23 and as a starter last season: 8.4 points and 38.5 percent (32.0 percent on 3s).
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Apr. 2024
Those two games as a reserve marked Herro’s first time playing off the bench since the 2022 playoffs — the same season that he was named the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2024
The man who inked the largest contract in franchise history until LaMelo Ball took the crown with his max rookie extension was back in the building, affixed in a familiar place for the anticipated homecoming: on the bench in street clothes.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 8 Apr. 2024
Both teams are relying on their starters with the bench players contributing 3 points for each team.
—Will Ujek, NBC News, 6 Apr. 2024
By then, the game was out of reach at 61-37, and head coach Dawn Staley kept Cardoso on the bench for the fourth quarter.
—Jill Martin, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024
Magistrate judges tend to serve smaller counties in Kansas and face less strenuous requirements to sit on the bench.
—Katie Bernard, Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2024
Bryant closed Sunday’s victory with four points, three rebounds and one block in 10 minutes off the bench.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2024
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 26 Apr. 2024.
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