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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

Greater relative abundance of both R inulinivorans and R intestinalis was also associated with better performance on the leg press and bench press.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 22, 2026

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

From Salon ● Jun. 18, 2025

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

From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2024

But the GR Corolla is what results when the standard model has been in the gym, setting personal bests in the deadlift and bench press.

From Seattle Times ● Jan. 3, 2024

“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

She’s trying to increase her squat and dead-lift records from 315 to 400 pounds and her bench-press personal best of 167 pounds up to 200.

From Washington Post ● Aug. 29, 2022

“A couple extra biceps curls and bench-press reps today to try to look the part of a cleanup hitter,” Kiermaier said before the game.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 7, 2022

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

From New York Times ● Dec. 5, 2021

She was small and agile and one of those people who, if her adrenaline got going, could probably bench-press a car off a baby.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama