as in standards
something set up as an example against which others of the same type are compared
this prize-winning biography will be the benchmark against which all others will be judged in future years
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Recent Examples of benchmarks
The current approach to AI mirrors the haphazard medical standards of the early 20th century, Bressman says, before medical schools, medical boards and other authorities agreed on national benchmarks for training and licensing.
—
ABC News,
6 July 2026
Over time, colleges have steadily reduced the number of objective benchmarks available for comparing applicants while increasing the role of institutional judgment.
—
Scott White,
Forbes.com,
5 July 2026
Semiconductors fell for a second day in a row, weighing on the latter two benchmarks.
—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
2 July 2026
In the company’s comparison, a 2023 Pixel Fold was tested against an ASUS RS720A-E11 server using SPEC benchmarks, and the Pixel’s large cores beat the baseline data-center server core in several cases.
—
New Atlas,
2 July 2026
But some experts worry that the focus on specific physical-activity benchmarks could turn some kids off exercise.
—
Chelsea Cirruzzo,
STAT,
2 July 2026
The authors recommended that the US government and its commercial and international partners establish benchmarks for interpreting hostile behavior in space.
—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
29 June 2026
Reger was, at the time of the presentation, healthcare benchmarks initiative director for the state Office of Health Strategy (OHS dissolved as of the close of business on June 25.
—
Katy Golvala,
Hartford Courant,
27 June 2026
The synthetic benchmarks tell a nuanced story.
—
Florence Ion,
PC Magazine,
27 June 2026
ABC News,
6 July 2026
Over time, colleges have steadily reduced the number of objective benchmarks available for comparing applicants while increasing the role of institutional judgment.
—
Scott White,
Forbes.com,
5 July 2026
Semiconductors fell for a second day in a row, weighing on the latter two benchmarks.
—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
2 July 2026
In the company’s comparison, a 2023 Pixel Fold was tested against an ASUS RS720A-E11 server using SPEC benchmarks, and the Pixel’s large cores beat the baseline data-center server core in several cases.
—
New Atlas,
2 July 2026
But some experts worry that the focus on specific physical-activity benchmarks could turn some kids off exercise.
—
Chelsea Cirruzzo,
STAT,
2 July 2026
The authors recommended that the US government and its commercial and international partners establish benchmarks for interpreting hostile behavior in space.
—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
29 June 2026
Reger was, at the time of the presentation, healthcare benchmarks initiative director for the state Office of Health Strategy (OHS dissolved as of the close of business on June 25.
—
Katy Golvala,
Hartford Courant,
27 June 2026
The synthetic benchmarks tell a nuanced story.
—
Florence Ion,
PC Magazine,
27 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for benchmarks
Noun
-
The next step in the process involves the city drafting a redevelopment plan outlining development standards before holding public hearings and seeking additional approvals.
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If an employer chooses to grant recognition, no election takes place, and the parties begin bargaining a contract that sets standards for wages, working conditions and benefits.
Noun
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Critics say the test rewards the smallest slice of the problem while ignoring Scope 3, the 80% to 95% of a producer's emissions that come from burning its fuel, and note the criteria echo the oil industry's own lobbying.
-
There are no particular criteria and it’s essentially all decided by whoever is chair of the AELTC at the time, which has been Debbie Jevans since 2023.
Noun
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School climate information may reveal challenges that traditional performance metrics overlook.
-
The wellness science company Vibe Science is testing its Domayn Mask in a beta program, aiming to shift users toward calmer or more focused states rather than only reporting metrics.
Cite this Entry
“Benchmarks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/benchmarks. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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