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
verbbench-press
2. (intransitive)
to carry out one or more bench presses
3. (transitive)
to lift (a weight) by performing a bench press
bench-press in British English
(ˈbɛntʃˌprɛs)
verb(intransitive)
to carry out one or more bench presses
bench press in American English
a weight-lifting exercise, performed while one is lying on a bench with the feeton the floor, in which a barbell is pushed upward from the chest until the arms are fully extended
Derived forms
bench-press (ˈbench-ˌpress)
verb transitive
Word origin
see , press1 (sense 26)
Examples of 'bench press' in a sentence
bench press
That knowledge sat on my chest like a 300lb bench press that I'd been foolish enough to think I could lift.
Robert Wilson A DARKENING STAIN (2002)
I watched him struggle with the bench press, and tried to spot him a little.
Jonah Black THE BLACK BOOK: DIARY OF A TEENAGE STUD VOL. I, GIRLS, GIRLS, GIRLS (2002)
Roselli could normally bench-press 308 pounds, something even Benny couldn't handle on an off-day.