🪑 A long seat 🏀 Reserve players ⚖️ Judges in court 🔧 A worktable 🚫 To remove from game 🏋️ To lift weights ⛰️ A flat area 🐕 To show an animal 🗂️ To set aside

to bench

1 7.4

To delay decision on a proposal until later

verb
/bɛnʧ/

Formal

: aplazar

Fine, Nintendo has benched most of their major franchises for the launch window and is trying to bring new content to the console, but it isn't exactly what people are looking for.

Examples

The committee decided to bench the proposal until the next meeting for further discussion.
We all want to rise and grow and challenge each other and challenge each other to grow, not silence ourselves or bench ourselves.
What's the point of learning from failure if you're going to bench it?

Blog text (10)
That was something I also picked up on, hence why I like an earlier post that said she would need to be benched so you could discuss her intent.

Blog text (12)
What is not good is that Twitter apps for Windows 8 are now effectively benched as Twitter has now stood on the rooftops shouting, 'Aw, hell no.'

Blog text (28)
Of course, to a logical mind, it seems preposterous to bench a proven and winning player over vague concerns that her "fitness" may be negatively affecting her performance.

Blog text (21)
During the discussion, the manager suggested we bench the topic to focus on more urgent issues.
After much debate, they agreed to bench the controversial project until additional research was completed.

Synonyms

to table

vsto bench

Formal

13 7.3

To delay discussion or a decision about something until later

is a more general temporary suspension in meetings rather than an official motion

to bench this idea

vsto bench

7.6

Delay talking about an idea until later

is a general temporary set-aside for proposals or issues in meetings

to bench the project

vsto bench

6.3

To stop work on a project for a time until things change

focuses on stopping discussion or consideration in meetings rather than pausing work

to sit on a decision

vsto bench

4.2

Delay making a decision by waiting instead of choosing

means temporarily set aside consideration in a meeting rather than intentionally delaying choice

Antonyms

to approve

∞ 1.6

To officially agree to something or think that it is good

Idioms

to ride the bench

Jargon

2 7.5

To stay on the sidelines and not play in a game

to warm the bench

Informal

1 7.0

A player who sits on the side and does not play in games

Phrasal Verbs

to bench the project

6.3

To stop work on a project for a time until things change

to bench this idea

7.6

Delay talking about an idea until later

Compounds

park bench

20 1.0

A long seat with a back in a park for people to sit

bench warrant

Formal

4 8.1

An order from a judge that allows police to arrest someone and bring them to court

bench press

4 3.0

An exercise where a person lies on their back on a bench and pushes weight up from the chest

lab bench

Specialized

2 2.8

A long sturdy table in a lab used for experiments

bench warmer

Informal

1 6.7

A player on a sports team who rarely plays

flat bench

1 3.1

A strong, flat surface you lie on to lift weights

front bench

Jargon

1 6.5

Seats in parliament for government ministers or top opposition members

bench clamp

5.3

A tool that holds a piece on a workbench firmly while you cut or drill

bench hook

8.8

A wooden block attached to a bench that holds wood steady while you cut or shape it

bench jockey

Informal

9.3

A person who supports and cheers for the team from the sideline

bench lathe

Specialized

8.0

A small machine fixed to a workbench that turns metal or wood for careful shaping

bench mark

6.4

A metal or stone mark in the ground that shows a known height to measure land

bench press

Specialized

5.6

A small press fixed to a workbench for punching or shaping metal

bench vise

Specialized

6.5

A tool fixed to a workbench with two parts that press to hold things while you work

bench-warmer

Informal

5.8

A player who rarely plays and stays on the bench during games

church bench

1.4

A long wooden seat with a back for people to sit in a church

laboratory bench

Specialized

3.7

A strong table in a lab where people do experiments

incline bench press

Specialized

5.5

An exercise pressing a barbell or dumbbells up on a sloping bench to work the upper chest

optical bench

Specialized

7.5

A long fixed bar that holds lenses and mirrors for experiments

woodworking bench

Specialized

3.7

A strong table that holds wood while you cut or shape it

Surface Forms

bench infinitive

benched past

benched past participle

benching present participle

benches third person singular

Etymology

Bench meaning to set a proposal aside is like putting the idea on a shelf or 'bench' for later consideration, so it is not decided now. A helpful way to remember it is to think of moving the paper to a bench while you think more.