1 C1 neutral
To cover a window, door, or opening with wooden planks.
"After the hurricane warning, they planked up all the ground-floor windows."
separable
plank up
C1 neutral separable transitive
To cover or seal something (such as a window or door) with planks of wood.
In plain English
To cover a door or window by nailing wooden boards across it.
What does "plank up" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To cover something upward with planks — largely transparent.
Actually means
To cover a door or window by nailing wooden boards across it.
Usage tip
Rare and largely interchangeable with 'board up', which is the standard expression. May appear in descriptions of construction, abandoned buildings, or emergency boarding. 'Board up' is strongly preferred in modern usage.
Words that pair with "plank up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
window door entrance building opening gap
How to conjugate "plank up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
plank up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
planks up
he/she/it
Past simple
planked up
yesterday
Past participle
planked up
have + pp
-ing form
planking up
continuous
Hear "plank up" in the wild
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Other ways to say "plank up"
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