bleachers

British  

/ ˈbliːtʃəz /

plural noun

1. (sometimes singular) a tier of seats in a sports stadium, etc, that are unroofed and inexpensive

2. the people occupying such seats

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Explanation

Bleachers are raised seating, usually for sporting events, that's arranged in tiers. Your favorite way to spend a Friday evening might be sitting in the bleachers and cheering for a high school football team. Bleachers are a set of benches made of wood or metal, used for inexpensive seating in gyms or beside sports fields. Students sometimes sit in the bleachers for a pep rally or speech, and soccer fans might gather before a game, choosing spots in the bleachers that give them a good view of the field. Since the late 19th century, bleachers has been used in the US, inspired by their typical wooden seats, bleached by the sun.

Example Sentences

It all came down to the final end but the Italians kept their nerve to edge to victory and cause a thunderous barrage of noise to roll down the wooden bleachers.

From BBC • Feb. 13, 2026

I was sitting on the bleachers with the third-graders, and we all applauded.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 9, 2026

In the bleachers on Saturday, there should be more than 50 cousins, aunts and uncles rooting for Dash, plus former OC Buckeyes.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 7, 2025

“As a friend told me, ‘I reached the top of the mountain for my craft,’” Goodrich told Poly students who filled up the bleachers.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 7, 2025

“There’s Hubert Huxley,” said Jake as they made their way to their assigned seats in the first row of the bleachers.

From "The Smartest Kid in the Universe" by Chris Grabenstein