plank

1 of 2

noun

ˈplaŋk 

1

a

: 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

2

a

: an article in the platform of a political party

b

: a principal item of a policy or program

plank

2 of 2

verb

planked; planking; planks

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

Verb

• flop
• flump
• plop
• plump
• plunk
• 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

All three workouts include scalable versions of lunge, row, box jumps/step ups, sit ups/plank, farmers carry, bike, shoulder throwovers, running and burpees. —Debby Rice, Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2025

According to Turrentine, in 2006, Democrats, including then-Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) and now-Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), developed a six-policy plank for candidates to use. —Jenny Goldsberry, The Washington Examiner, 22 Apr. 2025

Verb

The key takeaway is to give planking a try by starting slowly and easily. —Melanie Radzicki McManus, CNN, 13 Dec. 2024

Your golf swing can also benefit from planking, concluded another study published in the June issue of The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. —Melanie Radzicki McManus, CNN, 13 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French plaunke, planche, from Latin planca

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing plank

• walk the plank

Rhymes for plank

• banc
• bank
• blank
• clank
• crank
• dank
• drank
• flank
• franc
• hank
• lank
• prank

Kids Definition

plank

1 of 2 noun

ˈplaŋk 

1

: a wide heavy thick board

2

: an item in the list of beliefs and goals of a political party

plank

2 of 2 verb

1

: to cover or floor with planks

2

: to set down forcefully

planked the book on the table

3

: to cook and serve on a board

planked steak