A bench is a long seat where people can sit. You often see benches outside, for example in parks or at bus stops.
We sat on the bench in the park.
There is a wooden bench near the tree.
A bench can also mean a flat table where people do exercises, experiments, or fix things. It is commonly used in workshops and laboratories.
He fixed the watch on the workbench.
The scientist works at the lab bench.
In law, the bench means the group of judges or their official seat in the courtroom. It refers to the authority that decides the case.
The case was decided by the bench.
The lawyer addressed the bench in court.
In sports, the bench means the players who are not playing but can join the game later. They sit together waiting for their turn.
The coach called a player from the bench.
The bench cheered loudly for the team.
To bench someone means to take a player out of the game and make them wait on the side. Coaches do this to change the team.
The coach benched the player after the foul.
She was benched for the second half.
A bench can also be a raised flat place used to store things like tools or plants. It is common in gardens or workshops.
The gardener kept pots on the bench.
Tools are on the bench by the wall.
The phrase 'the bench' is used to talk about judges as a group. It is a formal way to mention legal decision-makers.
The bench issued a new ruling today.
Respect the decisions made by the bench.
