1
as in judge
a public official having authority to decide questions of law
appealed to the bench for leniency
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2
as in tribunal
an assembly of persons for the administration of justice
a ruling from the bench is expected any day now
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bench
The form here is to ease into the evening on the bistrot terrace, elevated just above the restaurant, scattered in old world wrought iron benches and couples sipping the hotel’s signature Amarillo Brillo Mezcal cocktail.
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Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Jan. 2026
One selfie saw the group smiling from their benches with plates of French fries, burgers, waffles, melts, and more spread before them.
—Christina Perrier, InStyle, 12 Jan. 2026
Liddy, who is 62 and lives in a $6 million home in Coronado, was sentenced to five years of probation following his criminal conviction in a bench trial, which means the case was decided by a judge rather than a jury.
—Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Jan. 2026
His pressure sent Wembanyama tumbling into the Wolves bench for a turnover, drawing a roar from the sellout crowd.
—Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
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Recent Examples of Synonyms for bench
Noun
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The judge also sentenced him to five years of supervised release and imposed a $500,000 fine against him — the maximum fine allowable.—
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An interpreter translated the judge's comments for Nino-Moncada.—
Noun
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In 1899, an international arbitral tribunal awarded the territory to Britain, when Guyana was still under its colonial rule.—
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Several oil companies sought compensation through international tribunals and arbitrators.—
Noun
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The attorneys general are asking the court for a temporary restraining order to restore funding while the case proceeds.—
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His administration’s agenda has tugged the law to its limits on several occasions, and is currently undergoing multiple court battles on issues ranging from immigration to tariffs.—
Cite this Entry
“Bench.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bench. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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