# board up

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/board-up
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to cover a window or door with wooden boards to keep people out or protect a building.

For teachers: to seal or secure an opening or a building by fastening wooden planks across it; typically used for protection against weather or to prevent unauthorized entry.

## Examples

- They board up the windows before the storm hits.
- The shop has been closed for years, and the owner finally decided to board up the front to prevent vandalism.
- As the hurricane approached the coast, residents worked tirelessly to board up their homes, hoping to minimize structural damage from the high winds.

## Pitfalls

- Not "They boarded the house up." but "They boarded up the house." — While technically separable, it is much more common to keep 'board up' together before the object in this context.

## Usage notes

- usually used with windows, doors, or entire buildings as the object.
- Teaching tip: this is a literal phrasal verb where 'up' implies completion or sealing; it is often seen in news reports about natural disasters or urban decay.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.