1
as in judge
a public official having authority to decide questions of law
appealed to the bench for leniency
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2
as in tribunal
an assembly of persons for the administration of justice
a ruling from the bench is expected any day now
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bench
Torrey Craig The Celtics want Craig to bring defensive physicality, reliable 3-point shooting and veteran experience to the back half of their bench.
—
Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 14 Feb. 2025
That’s why the starters are, well, the starters Maryland got zero points from its bench, and fifth-year senior small forward Jordan Geronimo was the only reserve to take a shot (0 of 2).
—Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 14 Feb. 2025
But timely performances from a Knicks bench that ranks dead last in the NBA in scoring proved to be the difference in New York’s eighth win in its last 10 games heading into Wednesday’s matchup against the Atlanta Hawks.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 13 Feb. 2025
This debut of the Mitchell-Herro-Wiggins-Adebayo-Wiggins group went well at the start, as the Heat opened Wednesday’s game with a 16-9 run before turning to its bench for the first time with 7:23 left in the first quarter.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for bench 
Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 14 Feb. 2025
That’s why the starters are, well, the starters Maryland got zero points from its bench, and fifth-year senior small forward Jordan Geronimo was the only reserve to take a shot (0 of 2).
—Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 14 Feb. 2025
But timely performances from a Knicks bench that ranks dead last in the NBA in scoring proved to be the difference in New York’s eighth win in its last 10 games heading into Wednesday’s matchup against the Atlanta Hawks.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 13 Feb. 2025
This debut of the Mitchell-Herro-Wiggins-Adebayo-Wiggins group went well at the start, as the Heat opened Wednesday’s game with a 16-9 run before turning to its bench for the first time with 7:23 left in the first quarter.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for bench
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bench
Noun
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Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church, a historic Black church in Washington, D.C., has been ordered by a judge to the take control of the name of the extremist group the Proud Boys.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
7 Feb. 2025
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Lebanese parliamentarians have named Nawaf Salam, a diplomat and former judge at the International Court of Justice, as Prime Minister-designate, tasking him with forming a government in a country that has been in caretaker mode since 2022.—
Sally Abou Aljoud,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Jeremy Rintoul, an upper tribunal judge, granted Campbell permission to appeal the five-year ban after receiving and reviewing new evidence uncovered by Campbell’s team.—
Samantha Conti,
WWD,
6 Feb. 2025
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While Margaret Josephs convening a pre-reunion tribunal to discuss the reunion at her house was maybe too much, this was definitely too little.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
28 Jan. 2025
Noun
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So, the court found that the HOA and management were properly dismissed from the case.—
Kelly G. Richardson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Feb. 2025
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With today’s decision, the court has repudiated almost every aspect of Humphrey’s Executor.—
Robert B. Reich,
Hartford Courant,
18 Feb. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Bench.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bench. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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