The invention provides a macroporous phenolic resin, a preparation method thereof and an application in adsorbing 5-hydroxymethylfurfural. The BET specific surface area of the macroporous phenolic resin of the present invention is 400~1300m 2 / g, the pore volume is 0.3~1.5cm 3 / g, the average pore diameter is 1-20nm. The macroporous phenolic resin of the present invention has high specific surface area, high adsorption capacity, high adsorption selectivity, and rich pore structure is easy to regenerate and recycle, and the macroporous phenolic resin has abundant hydroxyl functional groups, and through hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions, the The adsorption capacity of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural is greatly improved, the maximum adsorption capacity can reach 111mg / g wet resin, and the elution yield of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural is greater than 99.5%; the efficient separation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural is realized. The macroporous phenolic resin of the present invention is applied to adsorption and separation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, does not generate waste water, can greatly shorten the initial concentration time of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, and realizes green separation.