Meaning & use
benchmark
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountable
A standard or reference point used to judge how good or successful something else is.
Grammar: Often a benchmark for something or against which to compare: a benchmark for quality.
Patterns
- a benchmark for something
- a benchmark against something
Last year's sales are the benchmark for this year's goals.
The school's results became a benchmark for the whole region.
The new law sets a benchmark for data privacy.
nouncountablecomputingtechnical
A test used to measure and compare how well computers or software perform.
Grammar: Used with run or score: run a benchmark.
Patterns
- run a benchmark on something
The reviewer ran a benchmark on three different laptops.
The graphics card scored highest on every benchmark.
Developers use a benchmark to detect performance regressions.
verbtransitivebusiness
To compare something against a standard or against competitors to see how it measures up.
Grammar: Takes an object and often against: benchmark the product against rivals.
Patterns
- benchmark something against something
The firm benchmarks its prices against other suppliers.
We benchmarked our servers before upgrading them.
The hospital is benchmarking its waiting times against national figures.
Word forms
| plural | benchmarks |
|---|---|
| third person singular | benchmarks |
| past tense | benchmarked |
| past participle | benchmarked |
| -ing form | benchmarking |
Common combinations
- set a benchmark
- Her record-breaking performance set a new benchmark for the sport.
- industry benchmark
- The company's response time is an industry benchmark.
- meet the benchmark
- Students must meet the benchmark to move to the next level.
- benchmark against
- We benchmark our results against last quarter.
- benchmark test
- A benchmark test showed the new chip was faster.
- key benchmark
- Inflation is a key benchmark for central banks.
Synonyms and how they differ
- standard
- Standard is a general level of quality, while a benchmark is a specific point used for measuring.
- yardstick
- Yardstick is a more figurative word for anything you use to judge success.
- baseline
- Baseline is a starting measurement to compare change against, rather than a target to reach.
- criterion
- A criterion is a rule or principle of judgment, whereas a benchmark is usually a measurable reference.
Word family
Commonly confused: benchmark or bookmark?
benchmark vs bookmark
A bookmark saves a page or a place in a book or website, which is unrelated to a measuring standard.
Practice
The tech reviewer ran a ___ to compare how fast the two phones processed data.
Choose one answer.
A benchmark is a test or standard of comparison. Landmark is a prominent feature, so it is tempting but wrong.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “benchmark”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.