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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

The drills - including bench press, vertical jump and timed 40-yard sprint - are designed to test an individual's athleticism, strength and ball skills.

From BBC ● Mar. 20, 2024

Henley did not participate in the 40 or cone drills during pro day, but recorded impressive marks in the vertical jump and broad jump, and logged 19 reps on the bench press.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 28, 2023

My brother had a bench press in his bedroom that took up half the floor.

From "A Very Large Expanse of Sea" by Tahereh Mafi

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

From rusty bench-press reps in a basement weight room, to gopher-hole duty at O’Gorman High, to marathon road trips and 80-hour weeks in trailers parked by the practice field …

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 25, 2022

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

From New York Times ● Dec. 5, 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