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
Selene YeagerStart with basic moves like sit-ups, planks, and lunges …—Oprah Magazine
Oprah Magazine2
a
: an article in the platform of a political party
b
: a principal item of a policy or program
planked; planking; planks
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
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 WebGustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2023
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, who has made online engagement a key plank of her political strategy, last week joined the newsletter website Substack.
—Emma Platoff, BostonGlobe.com, 30 Aug. 2023
How to: Start in a high plank (option to start on knees) with hands slightly wider than shoulder-width apart holding dumbbells on the ground and the legs hip-width apart.
—Addison Aloian, Women's Health, 23 Aug. 2023
At a glance, the striking, multi-winged home is almost Scandinavian in its appearance, thanks to the slender planks of untreated white cedar that line the exterior.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 23 Aug. 2023
But it’s not just experienced divers catapulting themselves off this plank.
—Haley Howle, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2023
Return the palm to plank position and repeat on the opposite side.
—Alyssa Sparacino, Men's Health, 24 Aug. 2023
Building the rest of Trump’s border wall is now a standard campaign plank, as are measures to disqualify most migrants from asylum.
—Michelle Hackman, WSJ, 24 Aug. 2023
The thinner, the better for the wooden planks so that nothing too heavy drags the hula hoops down.
—Christianna Silva, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Aug. 2023
Chloe Berger, Fortune, 6 Sep. 2023
Langston says that planking is a great core-specific exercise, but that even big compound movements like back squats, deadlifts, and bench presses engage the core in a functional and dynamic way.
—Fiorella Valdesolo, Vogue, 16 Aug. 2023
The next step is joining the hull and deck, at which point the final hull layer is planked.
—Tony Esposito, Robb Report, 3 Apr. 2023
It can be prepared a number of ways — baked, charcoaled or planked — but shad roe, which is probably the most desirable way to dine on the fish, is poached or broiled — or there’s the novel way Jeff and Janet Ayres make it.
—Frederick N. Rasmussen, Baltimore Sun, 4 Apr. 2023
You’re bound to plank it eventually.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 27 May 2022
Reach both hands to the floor and walk out to plank.
—Brett Williams, Men's Health, 29 Nov. 2022
As our top pick for the best flooring for basements, the ProCore Plus is a luxury vinyl plank that is totally waterproof and scratch-resistant.
—Kat De Naoum, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Nov. 2022
The TrafficMaster vinyl plank flooring is easy to clean and maintain with just a dust mop or vacuum.
—Barbara Bellesi Zito, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Sep. 2022
See More
Noun
Advertisement Montañez was among the first Latino politicians to focus on it as a campaign plank.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2023
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, who has made online engagement a key plank of her political strategy, last week joined the newsletter website Substack.
—Emma Platoff, BostonGlobe.com, 30 Aug. 2023
How to: Start in a high plank (option to start on knees) with hands slightly wider than shoulder-width apart holding dumbbells on the ground and the legs hip-width apart.
—Addison Aloian, Women's Health, 23 Aug. 2023
At a glance, the striking, multi-winged home is almost Scandinavian in its appearance, thanks to the slender planks of untreated white cedar that line the exterior.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 23 Aug. 2023
But it’s not just experienced divers catapulting themselves off this plank.
—Haley Howle, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2023
Return the palm to plank position and repeat on the opposite side.
—Alyssa Sparacino, Men's Health, 24 Aug. 2023
Building the rest of Trump’s border wall is now a standard campaign plank, as are measures to disqualify most migrants from asylum.
—Michelle Hackman, WSJ, 24 Aug. 2023
The thinner, the better for the wooden planks so that nothing too heavy drags the hula hoops down.
—Christianna Silva, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Aug. 2023
Verb
Taking a cue from the early fads like the cinnamon challenge or planking, these companies make hashtags associated with their brands in hopes of spreading the world and getting an extra boost to sales.
—Chloe Berger, Fortune, 6 Sep. 2023
Langston says that planking is a great core-specific exercise, but that even big compound movements like back squats, deadlifts, and bench presses engage the core in a functional and dynamic way.
—Fiorella Valdesolo, Vogue, 16 Aug. 2023
The next step is joining the hull and deck, at which point the final hull layer is planked.
—Tony Esposito, Robb Report, 3 Apr. 2023
It can be prepared a number of ways — baked, charcoaled or planked — but shad roe, which is probably the most desirable way to dine on the fish, is poached or broiled — or there’s the novel way Jeff and Janet Ayres make it.
—Frederick N. Rasmussen, Baltimore Sun, 4 Apr. 2023
You’re bound to plank it eventually.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 27 May 2022
Reach both hands to the floor and walk out to plank.
—Brett Williams, Men's Health, 29 Nov. 2022
As our top pick for the best flooring for basements, the ProCore Plus is a luxury vinyl plank that is totally waterproof and scratch-resistant.
—Kat De Naoum, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Nov. 2022
The TrafficMaster vinyl plank flooring is easy to clean and maintain with just a dust mop or vacuum.
—Barbara Bellesi Zito, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Sep. 2022
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'plank.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Phrases Containing plank
Dictionary Entries Near plank
Cite this Entry
“Plank.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plank. Accessed 30 Sep. 2023.
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Kids Definition
plank
1 of 2 noun1
: a wide heavy thick board
2
: an item in the list of beliefs and goals of a political party
plank
2 of 2 verb1
: 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
More from Merriam-Webster on plank
Nglish: Translation of plank for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of plank for Arabic Speakers
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