Benches: meaning, definitions and examples

Benches in the context of furniture pieces for indoor seating, commonly used in places like dining areas.

• We need to buy new benches for the dining room
• The students take their seats on the benches in the school cafeteria

Seat is a general term for any place to sit, can refer to chairs, benches, and other types of seating.

• Please take your seat before the movie starts
• He found a seat next to the window

A chair is a single seat with a backrest for one person, used in homes, offices, and other personal spaces.

• She pulled up a chair to the dining table
• His office chair is very comfortable

A pew is a long bench with a back, typically used for seating in churches and other places of worship.

• The congregation filled the pews for the Sunday service
• She found an empty pew near the front of the church

Refers to the seating areas in sports where players and coaches sit when they are not playing. Also used in public areas as a term for long seats, typically in parks or public spaces.

• The coach discussed the strategy with players on the benches.
• They met and chatted on the benches at the park.

In sports, used when a player is removed from the team or not selected to play in the game. Also means to let something fall or to release.

• The coach decided to drop him from the team for the next game.
• Be careful not to drop the glass!

The area just outside the playing field where players and coaches stand during a game. Can also mean to remove someone from an activity or job temporarily.

• The assistant coach was shouting instructions from the sideline.
• She was sidelined due to her injury.

In sports, this refers to a player who replaces another player. More generally, it means a person or thing that takes the place of another.

• The coach called for a substitute in the second half.
• You can use honey as a substitute for sugar.