noun

bench

BEHNCH

noun

A long seat for more than one person, found in parks, courts, or changing rooms.

"They sat on a park bench and watched the ducks."

The judge or judges in a court, collectively; the judiciary.

"The bench ruled that the evidence was inadmissible."

In sport, where substitute players and coaches sit, or those players collectively.

"Our bench added real depth in the second half."

A sturdy work surface, as in a workshop or kitchen.

"He clamped the wood to the workbench."

verb

To remove a player from a game or a person from active duty, usually temporarily.

"The coach benched him after two missed practices."

Short for "bench press" — to lift a weighted barbell while lying on a bench.

"He can bench twice his body weight."

How to Use Bench

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA long seat, a judge’s seat (and the judiciary itself), a substitutes’ area in sport, a work surface, or (as a verb) to sideline someone or to bench-press weights.

Common pairings

bench press the judicial bench ride the bench workbench

Word Forms

benched past tense, benched past tense, benches plural, benches plural, Benches plural, benches singular, benches singular

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They sat on a park _____ and watched the ducks.

Etymology

From Old English benċ, "bench" — related to "bank" (both come from the same old Germanic root for a raised seat or shelf).

Rhymes for bench

inch conch lunch punch wench finch lynch cinch pinch bunch winch munch

See all rhymes for bench →