a human chain
noun
: a line of people standing next to each other with their arms linked
Protesters formed a human chain around the ancient tree to prevent it from being cut down.
Examples of a human chain in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Demonstrators have been attempting to block people and vehicles from entering and exiting, linking their arms in a human chain and using trash cans, umbrellas and other items as makeshift shields and barricades.
—
Philip Marcelo, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2026
Groups of demonstrators, many wearing gas masks and other face coverings, linked arms in a human chain in front of Delaney Hall in Newark on Wednesday night, videos and photos posted on social media show.
—ABC News, 28 May 2026
Protesters attempted to form a human chain outside the Delaney Hall detention center in Newark.
—Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 25 May 2026
Video shows people forming a human chain in the water earlier Tuesday evening, trying to safely help in the search.
—Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 20 May 2026
The following Sunday about 70 formed a human chain around the building.
—Michael Cuglietta, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2026
The demonstrators will be at the Gaylord Resort and Convention Center entrance all day and plan to form a human chain from 5 to 7 p.m., according to a flyer distributed by IranzVoiceDFW.
—Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Mar. 2026
Several good Samaritans quickly joined him, forming a human chain to stabilize the vehicle, which was wedged against a fallen tree — the only thing preventing it from plummeting down the mountainside.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 31 Dec. 2025
On May 25, 1986, people joined hands – literally – to try and form a human chain along a route across the country.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 17 Oct. 2025
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Philip Marcelo, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2026
Groups of demonstrators, many wearing gas masks and other face coverings, linked arms in a human chain in front of Delaney Hall in Newark on Wednesday night, videos and photos posted on social media show.
—ABC News, 28 May 2026
Protesters attempted to form a human chain outside the Delaney Hall detention center in Newark.
—Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 25 May 2026
Video shows people forming a human chain in the water earlier Tuesday evening, trying to safely help in the search.
—Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 20 May 2026
The following Sunday about 70 formed a human chain around the building.
—Michael Cuglietta, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2026
The demonstrators will be at the Gaylord Resort and Convention Center entrance all day and plan to form a human chain from 5 to 7 p.m., according to a flyer distributed by IranzVoiceDFW.
—Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Mar. 2026
Several good Samaritans quickly joined him, forming a human chain to stabilize the vehicle, which was wedged against a fallen tree — the only thing preventing it from plummeting down the mountainside.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 31 Dec. 2025
On May 25, 1986, people joined hands – literally – to try and form a human chain along a route across the country.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“A human chain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%20human%20chain. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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