Bench Press Definition & Meaning

American

British

Etymology

Examples

bench press 1 American

noun

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.

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.

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of bench press

First recorded in 1975–80

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

To many people, the 'lifting weights' process means bench presses, bicep curls and drinking protein shakes, but these days things are more cricket specific.

From BBC

It's a functional space; strip lighting, bench presses, pull-up bars and the tang of stale sweat.

From BBC

The sessions included deadlifts, dumbbell bench presses, lateral bounds, resistance band drills, sprints and hurdles.

From Los Angeles Times

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

From Salon

Lady Gaga, as a sympathetic classmate, sings a very good song as Pip trains by using a hot dog wiener as a heavy bag and bench presses blocks of cheese.

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.