plural planks
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 or hands while holding the rest of the body up and off the ground
Start with basic moves like sit-ups, planks, and lunges …—
O, The Oprah Magazine
O, The Oprah MagazineDo 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
see also side plank
Selene Yeager2
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 Web
Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2026
Crumbled sidewalks were replaced by planks that covered the sludge that concealed the ancient wood fretwork that buried the bones of the metropolis and its people.
—Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026
Jenny McCoy, Outside, 23 Mar. 2026
In the football world, a helicopter tackle is when a player is launched by a defender so that their body is planking parallel to the field and does at least a 180-degree spin.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for plank
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Noun
If someone changes partners, the person who gets kicked out of the relationship gets removed from the ship and the show, via walking the plank into the ocean.
—Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2026
Crumbled sidewalks were replaced by planks that covered the sludge that concealed the ancient wood fretwork that buried the bones of the metropolis and its people.
—Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026
Verb
Five minutes of straight planking probably sounds intense, but this routine incorporates a different variation every 30 seconds, which lessens the intimidation factor and also gives certain muscles a breather while others take on more work.
—Jenny McCoy, Outside, 23 Mar. 2026
In the football world, a helicopter tackle is when a player is launched by a defender so that their body is planking parallel to the field and does at least a 180-degree spin.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for plank
Cite this Entry
“Plank.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plank. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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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