as in standards
something set up as an example against which others of the same type are compared
this prize-winning biography will be the benchmark against which all others will be judged in future years
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Recent Examples of benchmarks
Continue reading … AMERICAN CULTURE QUIZ — Test yourself on Tidal Basin traditions and baseball benchmarks.
—
FOXNews.com, 9 Apr. 2026
The sixth annual national survey, a collaboration between Energage and USA TODAY, recognizes midsize and large organizations with at least 150 employees that are exceeding national benchmarks for employee satisfaction.
—Jessica Bryant, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2026
The rally also left the benchmarks testing their 50-day averages.
—Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 8 Apr. 2026
In a somewhat technical blog post accompanying the Spark announcement, Meta includes the by now routine laundry list of AI benchmarks, in which Muse Spark’s standard thinking mode ranks comparable or better than competing models from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and xAI.
—ArsTechnica, 8 Apr. 2026
Beyond individual initiatives, over 63 percent of growers achieve habitat scores above national benchmarks, integrating pollinator strips, wetlands and native plantings to increase biodiversity.
—Sj Studio, Footwear News, 6 Apr. 2026
European dealmakers outperformed their regional benchmarks and were among the strongest performers globally during the first quarter of 2026.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2026
This is a solid first showing that should satisfy most consumers who aren't obsessed with benchmarks and maximum possible speed.
—George Yang, PC Magazine, 1 Apr. 2026
And on Star Island, as well as Palm Beach, Ken Griffin continues to set new benchmarks.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 31 Mar. 2026
FOXNews.com, 9 Apr. 2026
The sixth annual national survey, a collaboration between Energage and USA TODAY, recognizes midsize and large organizations with at least 150 employees that are exceeding national benchmarks for employee satisfaction.
—Jessica Bryant, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2026
The rally also left the benchmarks testing their 50-day averages.
—Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 8 Apr. 2026
In a somewhat technical blog post accompanying the Spark announcement, Meta includes the by now routine laundry list of AI benchmarks, in which Muse Spark’s standard thinking mode ranks comparable or better than competing models from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and xAI.
—ArsTechnica, 8 Apr. 2026
Beyond individual initiatives, over 63 percent of growers achieve habitat scores above national benchmarks, integrating pollinator strips, wetlands and native plantings to increase biodiversity.
—Sj Studio, Footwear News, 6 Apr. 2026
European dealmakers outperformed their regional benchmarks and were among the strongest performers globally during the first quarter of 2026.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2026
This is a solid first showing that should satisfy most consumers who aren't obsessed with benchmarks and maximum possible speed.
—George Yang, PC Magazine, 1 Apr. 2026
And on Star Island, as well as Palm Beach, Ken Griffin continues to set new benchmarks.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 31 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for benchmarks
Noun
-
The two-lane bridge is too narrow by modern standards, with just 1 foot of shoulder on each side.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
7 Apr. 2026
-
But they are certified by California’s law enforcement standards agency.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The study is examining whether portions of the coastline meet criteria for national park designation, including significance, suitability and feasibility, along with the need for National Park Service management.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
10 Apr. 2026
-
On a recent boat tour of the harbor, a seal poked its head from the glassy water as the district’s executive director Chris Mikkelsen and development director Rob Holmlund explained that very few places meet the criteria for assembling floating turbines.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Interestingly, though, Tigers hitters are performing pretty well in a lot of underlying metrics.—
Cody Stavenhagen,
New York Times,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The Royals valued his metrics, alongside his ability to pitch in high-leverage situations, to make the deal.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Benchmarks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/benchmarks. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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