plank

noun

\ ˈplaŋk

Definition of plank

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : a heavy thick board especially : one 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 centimeters) thick and at least 8 inches (20 centimeters) wide

b : an object made of a plank or planking

c : planking

d : an exercise in which a prone person balances on the toes and forearms while holding the rest of the body up and off the ground Do two to three sets of these moves two days a week: push-ups (work up to 25) to build chest, shoulder and triceps strength; plank (support your body on your forearms and toes for up to 60 seconds) to build ab and back strength …— Selene Yeager Start with basic moves like sit-ups, planks, and lunges … — Oprah Magazine

2a : an article in the platform of a political party

b : a principal item of a policy or program

plank

verb

planked; planking; planks

Definition of plank (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to cover, build, or floor with planks

2 : to set down forcefully —usually used with down

3 : to cook and serve on a board planked salmon planked steak

Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about plank

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Synonyms for plank

Synonyms: Verb

flop, flump, plop, plump, plunk (or plonk)

Examples of plank in a Sentence

Noun

Before the convention, there was debate over the foreign policy and economic planks.

Verb

planked the carton down on the counter and left

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Jump feet back to come into a high plank position and pause. — SELF, "Final Strength Push, Plus 4-Minute Finisher," 28 Apr. 2019 Assume a high plank with your hands directly under your shoulders, legs extended, toes flexed, and glutes and core engaged. — Jenny Mccoy, SELF, "Work Your Core and Upper Body With This 5-Move TRX Circuit From Celebrity Trainer Jeanette Jenkins," 4 Apr. 2019 Dinesen Douglas-fir wide planks, his inspiration from the start, extend through most of the house in a natural oiled finish. — Erin Geiger Smith, House Beautiful, "Apartment Therapy's Maxwell Ryan's Home Is An Awesome Mix Of Scandinavian And Barnhouse Chic," 9 Jan. 2019 Immortalized in Johnson’s book The RBG Workout, the workout reportedly involves Ginsburg breezing through pushups, planks, and squats. — Julia Belluz, Vox, "Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s incredible ability to bounce back," 14 Dec. 2018 Parliament is due to vote this year on overhauls of unemployment insurance and pensions, planks in the president’s platform. — Noemie Bisserbe, WSJ, "Calls for Yellow-Vests to Debate, Not Demonstrate, Fall on Deaf Ears," 19 Jan. 2019 There are designs for every style of paddler, from flat planks for yogis to beefy boards for river runners. — Dylan Silver, Outside Online, "The Best Stand-Up Paddleboards of 2018," 5 July 2018 The flooring for the new chapel addition is made from chestnut planks that once served as the outer walls for the home. — Peter Marteka, Courant Community, "New Life For An Old House," 1 June 2018 The camps echoed with the thwack of hammers nailing planks into place and with the grunts of men positioning sandbags on their roofs to keep them from blowing away. — Shashank Bengali, latimes.com, "Rohingya Muslims who escaped the Myanmar army now brace for a threat they can't outrun: Rain," 30 May 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

The other half, after the first few strokes, simply gave up and planked, sinking to the bottom. — Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, "Geckos’ new superpower is running on water; now we know how they do it," 6 Dec. 2018 Sip vintages in the cavernous cedar-planked warehouse of The Austin Winery. — Condé Nast Traveler, "15 Best Things To Do in Austin," 4 Mar. 2018 When Aurora native and fitness instructor George Hood got off his platform after breaking two world records for planking Thursday, he was actually relieved to feel pain from head to toe. — Jessie Spangler, Aurora Beacon-News, "A fitness instructor from Aurora has set 2 world records for planking," 30 June 2018 But Straus’ presence was evident through Patrick’s speech, and debates over party rules and platform planks that tied back to the speaker. — Jasper Scherer, San Antonio Express-News, "Straus’ presence felt at convention despite his absence," 16 June 2018 The other partner broad jumps over the planking partner, turns around and broad jumps back over. — Kalyn Kahler, SI.com, "How to Workout Like the New England Patriots Cheerleaders," 19 Jan. 2018 While only bits of the hull, keel and planking remain, researchers uncovered ceramics from Cyprus, Syria and southern Italy, as well as iron nails and ship artifacts like anchors. — Jason Daley, Smithsonian, "Crusader Shipwreck, Likely From the Siege of Acre, Discovered," 21 Mar. 2017 Just look in the living room with Old English wood planked floors. — Janet Eastman, OregonLive.com, "Suave Sundeleaf-designed estate listed at $2.15 million (photos)," 15 Oct. 2017 The wrong logo was printed on a huge banner that was hung prominently above Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua, who was sitting on a red carpet and planked by Lorenzana and the Philippine military chief of staff. — Washington Post, "Philippines apologizes to China over wrong Taiwan logo," 9 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'plank.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.