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
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
On Wednesday, members of the Chattogram Port Berth and Terminal Operators Merchant Workers Unity Council formed a human chain in front of the port in protest of the manner the port’s operator handles wages and benefits.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 11 Sep. 2025
Organizers formed a human chain to allow players to leave without being mobbed.
—Omkar Khandekar, NPR, 8 June 2025
Authorities allowed a group of Iranian students to form a human chain Thursday at its underground enrichment site at Fordo, an area with incredibly tight security built into a mountain to defend against possible airstrikes.
—Giada Zampano, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2025
Late Tuesday, students linked arms and formed a human chain around their temporary encampment — an effort to prevent it from being broken up.
—Amanda McCard, Hartford Courant, 24 Apr. 2025
Chelsea residents formed a human chain to move 9,100 books to Serendipity Books' new location.
—Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 16 Apr. 2025
Nashville Tennessean Thousands are expected to form a human chain across midtown Nashville on March 27 to mark the one-year anniversary of the deadly Covenant School shooting.
—Rachel Wegner, The Tennessean, 20 Mar. 2024
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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
On Wednesday, members of the Chattogram Port Berth and Terminal Operators Merchant Workers Unity Council formed a human chain in front of the port in protest of the manner the port’s operator handles wages and benefits.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 11 Sep. 2025
Organizers formed a human chain to allow players to leave without being mobbed.
—Omkar Khandekar, NPR, 8 June 2025
Authorities allowed a group of Iranian students to form a human chain Thursday at its underground enrichment site at Fordo, an area with incredibly tight security built into a mountain to defend against possible airstrikes.
—Giada Zampano, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2025
Late Tuesday, students linked arms and formed a human chain around their temporary encampment — an effort to prevent it from being broken up.
—Amanda McCard, Hartford Courant, 24 Apr. 2025
Chelsea residents formed a human chain to move 9,100 books to Serendipity Books' new location.
—Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 16 Apr. 2025
Nashville Tennessean Thousands are expected to form a human chain across midtown Nashville on March 27 to mark the one-year anniversary of the deadly Covenant School shooting.
—Rachel Wegner, The Tennessean, 20 Mar. 2024
Cite this Entry
“A human chain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%20human%20chain. Accessed 25 Jan. 2026.
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