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• bench press
  bench press

  noun

  a weightlifting exercise in which one lies supine on a bench and with both hands pushes a barbell or fixed weight upward from chest level to arm's length and then lowers it back to chest level: usually repeated in sets.
• bench-press
  bench-press

  verb (used with or without object)

  to perform a bench press with (a weight).

bench press

¹ American  

noun

bench presses plural

1. a weightlifting exercise in which one lies supine on a bench and with both hands pushes a barbell or fixed weight upward from chest level to arm's length and then lowers it back to chest level: usually repeated in sets.

2. one complete repetition of this exercise.

3. this exercise as an event in weightlifting competition.

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bench-press ² American  

[bench-pres] / ˈbɛntʃˌprɛs /

verb (used with or without object)

1. to perform a bench press with (a weight).

   He is small but can bench-press more than 400 pounds.

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bench press British  

noun

1. a weight-training exercise in which a person lies on a bench and pushes a barbell upwards with both hands from chest level until the arms are straight, then lowers it again

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verb

1. (intr) to carry out one or more bench presses

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• bench presses
  plural

Etymology

Origin of bench press

First recorded in 1975–80

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

bench press bench-press

At night, she returned to the bench press for a final round.

From Salon ● Jun. 18, 2025

His peak sprint speed, external and bench press results, external are up on what he was clocking before the injury.

From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2024

Powerlifting consists of three different lifts - a squat, deadlift and a bench press.

From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2024

My goal in the lift is to bench press 225 pounds 25 times, which would be a solid number.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 14, 2023

“And you’re not supposed to be here without Scythe Chomsky to spot you,” she pointed out, then sat down on a bench press showing no sign of leaving.

From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman

Plus: Luke Winkie casts a critical eye to RFK Jr.’s shirtless bench-press and pushup videos.

From Slate ● Jun. 27, 2023

Payne, a 310-pound behemoth of a man, could bench-press 460 pounds in high school, and at least one analyst projected he’d be a Pro Bowler before he was even drafted in 2018.

From Washington Post ● Dec. 3, 2022

Watt continues to bench-press offensive linemen whenever he pleases.

From New York Times ● Dec. 5, 2021

DeLay knew, and not because of his size, or his 40-yard dash time, or his bench-press reps or his fast-twitch muscles.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 28, 2021

“That’s like asking why you don’t bench-press your maximum weight every time you lift. Because it’s hard, and you’d hurt yourself. Turning into a dragon isn’t easy.”

From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan