often attributive
1
a
: a series of usually metal links or rings connected to or fitted into one another and used for various purposes (such as support, restraint, transmission of mechanical power, or measurement)
b
: a series of links used or worn as an ornament or insignia
c(1)
: a measuring instrument of 100 links used in surveying
(2)
: a unit of length equal to 66 feet (about 20 meters)
2
: something that confines, restrains, or secures
3
a
: a series of things linked, connected, or associated together
a chain of events
a mountain chain
b
: a group of enterprises or institutions of the same kind or function usually under a single ownership, management, or control
fast-food chains
c
: a number of atoms or chemical groups united like links in a chain
chained; chaining; chains
1
: to obstruct or protect by a chain
2
: to fasten, bind, or connect with or as if with a chain
also
: fetter
Synonyms
Examples of chain in a Sentence
Noun
We'll need 25 feet of chain for the pulley.
The new book chronicles the chain of events leading up to the crime.
They own a chain of organic grocery stores.
The hotel chain recently opened a new hotel in Hong Kong.
Verb
She chained her bicycle to the post and went inside.
chaining up the dog in the backyard
Recent Examples on the Web
Detroit Free Press, 8 Apr. 2024
The cinema chain giant is also looking to raise fresh cash, where possible, to run the business and offset the company’s high debt load.
—Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Apr. 2024
Bloomberg, last week, reported the chain was considering a potential bankruptcy filing due to liquidity problems.
—Chris Morris, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2024
The chain also has locations in Utah, Texas, Oregon, Colorado and Idaho, with locations planned for Tennessee, New Mexico and Washington state.
—Michael Salerno, The Arizona Republic, 5 Apr. 2024
At the turn of this year, the French grocery chain took PepsiCo products off its shelves in response to inflation at a time when consumers’ incomes were squeezed.
—Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 5 Apr. 2024
Choice Canning supplies shrimp to major U.S. grocery chains, including Walmart, Aldi, ShopRite and H-E-B. Lawyers for the company have denied any wrongdoing.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 4 Apr. 2024
About 13,000 people are expected to form a four-mile human chain Wednesday beginning at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt where some of the victims of the shooting were taken a year ago.
—Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN, 27 Mar. 2024
He was met with Barbell on a throne with locked chains surrounding it.
—Journal Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2024
Liam Stack, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2024
To the Rio waterfront, for one, where the pompous Nigel (Jemaine Clement) is quoting Shakespeare, decrying the carnival sideshow he’s chained to and deflecting the unwanted attention of his terribly annoying, terribly adoring fan, Gabi.
—Miami Staff, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024
In the story, humans are prisoners chained up in a dark chamber, facing a wall.
—Emma Green, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024
The digital nomad lifestyle offers a unique work experience that comes with the autonomy of not being chained to an office.
—Jack Kelly, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024
Punished for trying to escape during the journey, she was chained at the ankle and thrown onto a pile of charcoal.
—Adam Nossiter, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2024
It had been dumped, left chained to a post in the center of a nearby town.
—Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2024
Ideal for students or anyone who loves lounging in bed with everything within reach.
Find it on Amazon
Turn Their Floor Into a Spa: This Acupressure Set Is Their New Relaxation Haven
Know someone who’s always on their feet or chained to a desk?
—Cristian Esteban, Rolling Stone, 8 Dec. 2023
Jamal further asks how thousands of Africans could have been captured in the slave trade, chained and put onto ships by a small number of white men with only a few rifles and whips.
—USA TODAY, 20 Jan. 2024
Noun
Michigan retail chains expected to carry solar eclipse glasses:
Walmart
Lowe's
Menards
Kroger
Meijer
Staples
Detroit Public Library
Detroit Public Library is hosting viewing parties at each of its open branches, supplying eclipse glasses while supplies last.
—Detroit Free Press, 8 Apr. 2024
The cinema chain giant is also looking to raise fresh cash, where possible, to run the business and offset the company’s high debt load.
—Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Apr. 2024
Bloomberg, last week, reported the chain was considering a potential bankruptcy filing due to liquidity problems.
—Chris Morris, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2024
The chain also has locations in Utah, Texas, Oregon, Colorado and Idaho, with locations planned for Tennessee, New Mexico and Washington state.
—Michael Salerno, The Arizona Republic, 5 Apr. 2024
At the turn of this year, the French grocery chain took PepsiCo products off its shelves in response to inflation at a time when consumers’ incomes were squeezed.
—Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 5 Apr. 2024
Choice Canning supplies shrimp to major U.S. grocery chains, including Walmart, Aldi, ShopRite and H-E-B. Lawyers for the company have denied any wrongdoing.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 4 Apr. 2024
About 13,000 people are expected to form a four-mile human chain Wednesday beginning at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt where some of the victims of the shooting were taken a year ago.
—Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN, 27 Mar. 2024
He was met with Barbell on a throne with locked chains surrounding it.
—Journal Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2024
Verb
The towering neo-Gothic building became the site of headline-grabbing protests in which activists chained themselves to the pews and lay down in the aisles.
—Liam Stack, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2024
To the Rio waterfront, for one, where the pompous Nigel (Jemaine Clement) is quoting Shakespeare, decrying the carnival sideshow he’s chained to and deflecting the unwanted attention of his terribly annoying, terribly adoring fan, Gabi.
—Miami Staff, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024
In the story, humans are prisoners chained up in a dark chamber, facing a wall.
—Emma Green, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024
The digital nomad lifestyle offers a unique work experience that comes with the autonomy of not being chained to an office.
—Jack Kelly, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024
Punished for trying to escape during the journey, she was chained at the ankle and thrown onto a pile of charcoal.
—Adam Nossiter, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2024
It had been dumped, left chained to a post in the center of a nearby town.
—Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2024
Ideal for students or anyone who loves lounging in bed with everything within reach.
Find it on Amazon
Turn Their Floor Into a Spa: This Acupressure Set Is Their New Relaxation Haven
Know someone who’s always on their feet or chained to a desk?
—Cristian Esteban, Rolling Stone, 8 Dec. 2023
Jamal further asks how thousands of Africans could have been captured in the slave trade, chained and put onto ships by a small number of white men with only a few rifles and whips.
—USA TODAY, 20 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'chain.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near chain
Cite this Entry
“Chain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chain. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
chain
1 of 2 noun1
a
: a series of connected links or rings
b
: a measuring instrument of 100 links used in surveying
c
: a unit of length equal to 66 feet (about 20 meters)
2
: something that restricts or binds : bond
3
a
: a series of things joined together as if by links
a chain of mountains
a chain of events
b
: a number of atoms united like links in a chain
chain
2 of 2 verb
: to fasten, bind, or connect with or as if with a chain
Medical Definition
chain
noun1
: a series of things (as bacteria) linked, connected, or associated together
2
: a number of atoms or chemical groups united like links in a chain
Biographical Definition
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share