A weightlifting exercise performed lying on a bench, pressing a barbell or dumbbells from chest level to full arm extension. It primarily targets the chest, shoulders, and triceps.
From 'bench' (the equipment used) + 'press' (to push away). The exercise evolved from floor presses in the early 1900s, with specialized benches becoming standard gym equipment by the 1950s.
The bench press is the most ego-driven lift in gyms worldwide - it's the exercise everyone asks about ('How much can you bench?')! Interestingly, it wasn't even included in early powerlifting competitions, which originally featured only squat and deadlift.
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