Handling a list of variable assignments to be used with `With` [duplicate]

Question

Is there a way to use With as follows?

variables := {a = 2, b = 3};
With[variables, a^b]

Desired output

8

Obviously the above code will actually just output

With[variables, a^b]

I know I can do something similar to this by defining a list of rules and using the operator form of ReplaceAll, I just like the way the With syntax looks and would prefer to use it if possible.

Answer 1

A quick idiomatic approach is to do

Unevaluated[explicitExpression] /. OwnValues[variableWithSetDelayedDefinition]

You can find it in 76917 together with alternatives. See linked topics as well.

So here:

variables := {a = 2, b = 3};

With[variables, a^b] // Unevaluated // ReplaceAll @ OwnValues @ variables

8