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 WebTIME, 12 Apr. 2024
Bicycle crunch Like the plank, the bicycle crunch works all of your major core muscles.
—Melanie Radzicki McManus, CNN, 28 Mar. 2024
For edge grain, planks are turned on their side and stacked to create long, thin strips that make the countertop surface.
—Katherine Owen, Southern Living, 27 Mar. 2024
Passengers lounged on wooden plank recliners instead of squatting on the floor, with devices plugged in to countless outlets (that actually worked).
—Rachel Chang, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Mar. 2024
One example of Huang’s hardship was his daily high school experience: The teenager had to cross a dangerous footbridge with missing planks over a river to get to his public school in Kentucky, where he was then relentlessly tormented.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2024
Reclaimed white oak in varying widths of wide plank was used in the outdoor kitchen and storage areas.
—Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 22 Feb. 2024
The high plank hold also engages your abs, back muscles, shoulders, and chest, Pierson says, all of which are key for nailing the push-up.
—Christa Sgobba, SELF, 2 Apr. 2024
The atmosphere, too, was pleasant: tropical modern, with gloss-white plates and tan booths, a black stone bar, soaring stone accent wall, wood plank and ceramic floors below.
—Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 1 Apr. 2024
Melanie Radzicki McManus, CNN, 28 Mar. 2024
The show is clear-eyed and irony-free, the plot laid out in neat, straight planking.
—Tom Gliatto, Peoplemag, 25 Jan. 2024
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
Noun
In platform committee meetings, Ford’s team objected to the planks that the Helms forces were pushing.
—TIME, 12 Apr. 2024
Bicycle crunch Like the plank, the bicycle crunch works all of your major core muscles.
—Melanie Radzicki McManus, CNN, 28 Mar. 2024
For edge grain, planks are turned on their side and stacked to create long, thin strips that make the countertop surface.
—Katherine Owen, Southern Living, 27 Mar. 2024
Passengers lounged on wooden plank recliners instead of squatting on the floor, with devices plugged in to countless outlets (that actually worked).
—Rachel Chang, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Mar. 2024
One example of Huang’s hardship was his daily high school experience: The teenager had to cross a dangerous footbridge with missing planks over a river to get to his public school in Kentucky, where he was then relentlessly tormented.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2024
Reclaimed white oak in varying widths of wide plank was used in the outdoor kitchen and storage areas.
—Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 22 Feb. 2024
The high plank hold also engages your abs, back muscles, shoulders, and chest, Pierson says, all of which are key for nailing the push-up.
—Christa Sgobba, SELF, 2 Apr. 2024
The atmosphere, too, was pleasant: tropical modern, with gloss-white plates and tan booths, a black stone bar, soaring stone accent wall, wood plank and ceramic floors below.
—Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 1 Apr. 2024
Verb
Here’s the right way to do it Core exercises that don’t require planking
Ready to strengthen your core without planking?
—Melanie Radzicki McManus, CNN, 28 Mar. 2024
The show is clear-eyed and irony-free, the plot laid out in neat, straight planking.
—Tom Gliatto, Peoplemag, 25 Jan. 2024
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
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.
Dictionary Entries Near plank
Cite this Entry
“Plank.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plank. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
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