benchmark
gb/bˈɛnt͡ʃmˌɑɹk/ us/bˈɛnt͡ʃmˌɑɹk/
B2
English
~ 9100
mérce, viszonyítási alap, összevet, benchmarkol, teljesítményteszt, benchmark, referenciaindex, szintezési alappont, szintezési jel
NOUN
B2
1
mérce
B1
Usage pattern:
[something] is a benchmark for [something]
This report sets a new benchmark for clarity and detail in our industry.
Ez a jelentés új mércét állít az iparágunkban az érthetőség és a részletesség terén.
Their customer service has become the benchmark that other companies try to match.
Az ügyfélszolgálatuk lett az a mérce, amelyet más cégek megpróbálnak elérni.
The figure of 3% inflation is often used as a benchmark for price stability.
The school uses international tests as a benchmark for student performance.
The latest model established a benchmark in battery life for smartphones.
Learner examples
Her work is a benchmark for other students.
A munkája mércéül szolgál a többi diák számára.
This hotel is the benchmark for good service in the city.
Ez a szálloda a jó szolgáltatás mércéje a városban.
We use last year’s results as a benchmark for this year.
That car is the benchmark for safety in its class.
The company set a high benchmark for product quality.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"a high benchmark of quality"* when *"a high benchmark for quality"* is more natural. Another mistake is using *"benchmark"* when they really mean *"milestone";* a *benchmark* is a standard for comparison, while a *milestone* is an important step or stage in a process.
Meaning
standard used for comparison
Collocations
industry benchmark
|set a benchmark
|high benchmark
|serve as a benchmark
|international benchmark
|benchmark price
Synonyms
standard (Most general word; does not always suggest comparison like 'benchmark' does.)
|
yardstick (More informal and slightly figurative; emphasizes measuring other things against it.)
|
reference point (Highlights the idea of something you refer back to when judging others.)
Antonyms
outlier (Something that is very different from the usual standard, so it cannot be used for comparison.)
Themes
business
|measurement
|education
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A standard that you use to measure how good, fast, or high-quality other things are.
A level of quality, performance, or value that is used as a standard for comparing similar things.
VERB
B2
2
összevet
B2
benchmarkol
C1
Usage pattern:
to benchmark [something] against [something]
We benchmark our salaries against other companies in the region every year.
Minden évben összevetjük a fizetéseinket a régió más cégeinél fizetett bérekkel.
The new software was benchmarked against three leading competitors.
Az új szoftvert három piacvezető versenytárs termékével vetették össze.
Schools are being benchmarked against national standards for literacy and numeracy.
The study benchmarks the country’s health system against those of its neighbors.
Before launch, they benchmarked the product to see if it met industry expectations.
Learner examples
The company benchmarks its prices against other stores.
A vállalat más üzletek áraival veti össze az árait.
We will benchmark our service against the best hotels.
A szolgáltatásunkat a legjobb szállodák szolgáltatásaival fogjuk összevetni.
They benchmarked the new machine to check its speed.
The manager wants to benchmark our results with last year.
The app was benchmarked to see if it was fast enough.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"benchmark to"* instead of *"benchmark against"* when talking about comparison, e.g. *"We benchmark our product to our rivals"* instead of *"benchmark our product against our rivals".* Another confusion is using *benchmark* as a verb where *"set a benchmark"* (verb + noun) would sound more natural.
Meaning
to compare against a standard
Collocations
benchmark performance
|benchmark results
|benchmark a system
|benchmark against competitors
|benchmark best practices
|benchmark progress
Synonyms
evaluate (General word for judging quality; does not always imply comparison with a standard like 'benchmark' does.)
|
compare (Focuses on looking at differences and similarities, but not necessarily in a formal or systematic way.)
Antonyms
ignore (To pay no attention and not measure or compare something at all.)
Themes
business
|measurement
|technology
|work
Definition
To test or compare something against a standard to see how good it is.
To measure the quality, performance, or value of something by comparing it systematically with an agreed standard or with similar things.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
3
Usage pattern:
to run a benchmark on [something]
The graphics card achieved a very high score in the gaming benchmark.
A videokártya nagyon magas pontszámot ért el a játékokkal végzett teljesítményteszten.
Investors often use the S&P 500 as a benchmark to judge a fund’s performance.
A befektetők gyakran az S&P 500-at használják referenciaindexként egy alap teljesítményének megítélésére.
We ran several benchmarks to compare the new processor with last year’s model.
The fund failed to beat its benchmark index for the third year in a row.
These benchmark results show that the database engine scales well under heavy load.
Learner examples
The phone did well in battery life benchmarks.
A telefon jól szerepelt az akkumulátor-üzemidőt mérő teszteken.
They ran a benchmark to test the new computer.
Lefuttattak egy teljesítménytesztet az új számítógép tesztelésére.
Many funds use a stock index as a benchmark.
This benchmark shows how fast the program is.
The manager checks our fund against its benchmark every month.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this sense with the general *standard* sense and say things like *"We set a benchmark on the computer"* when they mean *"We ran a benchmark".* In tech contexts, *benchmark* usually means a specific test or measurement, not just any high standard.
Meaning
standard performance test or metric
Collocations
benchmark test
|run a benchmark
|performance benchmark
|benchmark score
|benchmark suite
|benchmark index
Synonyms
performance test (More descriptive; does not always imply a widely used or standard test.)
|
index (Used mainly in finance for a benchmark value representing a market or sector.)
Antonyms
nonstandard test (A test that is not widely accepted or used for comparison, so it cannot serve as a benchmark.)
Themes
technology
|finance
|measurement
Definition
A test or number used to measure and compare how well a computer, program, or financial product works.
A standard test or set of measurements used to assess and compare the performance of a computer system, software, or financial product.
NOUN
C2
TECHNICAL
4
Usage pattern:
a benchmark for [surveying/leveling] measurements
The surveyors used an old benchmark on the church wall to verify their elevation readings.
A földmérők a templom falán lévő régi szintezési jelet használták a magassági méréseik ellenőrzésére.
Each benchmark on the map shows a point whose height above sea level is known.
A térképen minden szintezési alappont olyan pontot jelöl, amelynek ismert a tengerszint feletti magassága.
A permanent benchmark was installed near the bridge to monitor ground movement.
The team located a national benchmark before starting the land survey.
Many historical benchmarks have been lost during building renovations.
Learner examples
The surveyor found a benchmark on the side of the building.
A földmérő talált egy szintezési jelet az épület oldalán.
This metal plate is a benchmark with a known height.
Ez a fémlap egy ismert magasságú szintezési alappont.
They used the benchmark to check the level of the land.
A benchmark on the map shows the height at that point.
Workers must not damage the benchmark during construction.
Meaning
surveying reference mark
Collocations
geodetic benchmark
|surveying benchmark
|official benchmark
|permanent benchmark
|benchmark elevation
|establish a benchmark
Synonyms
reference mark (General term for a marked point used in measurements; not specific to elevation.)
Antonyms
unknown point (A position without a known elevation, so it cannot be used as a surveying benchmark.)
Themes
science
|geography
|engineering
|space
Definition
A special mark in the ground or on a building that shows a known height, used by surveyors when they measure land.
A fixed physical point, often marked on a stone, wall, or metal plate, with a known elevation or position used by surveyors as a reference for measurements.
Grammar
Dictionary form
benchmark
IPA
GB/bˈɛnt͡ʃmˌɑɹk/
US/bˈɛnt͡ʃmˌɑɹk/
Syllables & stress
bench - mark (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (bench)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: benchmark
- Plural: benchmarks
Verb
- Base: benchmark
- 3rd Person Singular: benchmarks
- Present Participle: benchmarking
- Past: benchmarked
Word family
Forms
benchmarks
noun
benchmarking
verb
benchmarked
verb
Advanced or less common
benchmarkable
adjective
Expressions
benchmark against
1/bˈɛnt͡ʃmˌɑɹk əɡˈɛnst/
fixed phrase
compare something with standard
To compare something to a chosen standard in order to judge it.
Examples
- We benchmark our performance against leading global companies.
- The study benchmarks local hospitals against national averages.
benchmark interest rate
1/bˈɛnt͡ʃmˌɑɹk ˈɪntɚˌɛst ɹˈeɪt/
fixed phrase
technical
key rate used as standard
A main interest rate that banks and markets use as a standard to set other interest rates.
Examples
- The central bank cut its benchmark interest rate by 0.25%.
- Many mortgages are linked to a benchmark interest rate.
benchmark test
1/bˈɛnt͡ʃmˌɑɹk tˈɛst/
fixed phrase
technical
standard test of performance
A special test that checks how well a computer or device works, so you can compare it with others.
Examples
- The phone scored highly in CPU benchmark tests.
- We used an independent benchmark test to compare the two laptops.
industry benchmark
1/ˈɪndəstɹi bˈɛnt͡ʃmˌɑɹk/
fixed phrase
standard within an industry
The usual or best standard that companies in one industry use to compare themselves.
Examples
- Their safety record is now the industry benchmark.
- These prices are well below the current industry benchmark.
raise the benchmark
1/ɹˈeɪz ðə bˈɛnt͡ʃmˌɑɹk/
fixed phrase
increase expected standard
To make the standard that people expect higher than before.
Examples
- The new policy raises the benchmark for customer care across the industry.
- Her latest book has raised the benchmark for crime novels.
run a benchmark
1/ɹˈʌn ə bˈɛnt͡ʃmˌɑɹk/
fixed phrase
technical
perform a benchmark test
To carry out a benchmark test on a computer, program, or device.
Examples
- Before overclocking, he ran a benchmark to check the system’s stability.
- Developers run benchmarks regularly to track performance changes.
serve as a benchmark
1/sˈɚv ˈæz ə bˈɛnt͡ʃmˌɑɹk/
fixed phrase
function as comparison standard
To be used as the standard that other things are compared to.
Examples
- These guidelines will serve as a benchmark for all future contracts.
- Her performance serves as a benchmark for new employees.
set a benchmark
1/sˈɛt ə bˈɛnt͡ʃmˌɑɹk/
fixed phrase
establish a standard level
To create a new standard that other things will be compared to.
Examples
- Their first electric car set a benchmark for range and safety.
- The project has set a benchmark for future community initiatives.