bleachers

British  

/ ˈbliːtʃəz /

plural noun

1. (sometimes singular) a tier of seats in a sports stadium, etc, that are unroofed and inexpensive

2. the people occupying such seats

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Explanation

Bleachers are raised seating, usually for sporting events, that's arranged in tiers. Your favorite way to spend a Friday evening might be sitting in the bleachers and cheering for a high school football team. Bleachers are a set of benches made of wood or metal, used for inexpensive seating in gyms or beside sports fields. Students sometimes sit in the bleachers for a pep rally or speech, and soccer fans might gather before a game, choosing spots in the bleachers that give them a good view of the field. Since the late 19th century, bleachers has been used in the US, inspired by their typical wooden seats, bleached by the sun.

Example Sentences

In a place where history looks down from the wooden bleachers, these four will attempt to make their own by becoming the first GB men's rink in 102 years to win Olympic gold.

From BBC • Feb. 20, 2026

From a distance, to those in the finish-line bleachers watching below, it looks terrifying.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 13, 2026

“As a friend told me, ‘I reached the top of the mountain for my craft,’” Goodrich told Poly students who filled up the bleachers.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 7, 2025

A crowd of thousands pounded their feet on bleachers creating a thunderous sound as the sun set over the wealthy Forest Hills neighborhood.

From Barron's • Oct. 27, 2025

Fifteen minutes later I was sitting in the bleachers, waiting for him.

From "We Were Here" by Matt De La Peña