chain 1 of 2

noun

ˈchān How to pronounce chain (audio)
Definition of chainnext
1
as in sequence
a series of things linked together the chain of events that led the American colonies to seek independence from Great Britain

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2
as in obstacle
something that makes movement or progress difficult this community will grow and prosper only after it has thrown off the chains of ignorance and prejudice

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3
as in bracelet
something that physically prevents free movement chains on the prisoner's ankles

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chain

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to bind
to confine or restrain with or as if with chains chaining up the dog in the backyard

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2
as in to connect
to put or bring together so as to form a new and longer whole the prosecutor meticulously and brilliantly chained all the evidence together in his closing argument

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of chain
Noun
Dealers versus chain service centers There is a potential challenge to this. — Robert Ferris, CNBC, 19 Aug. 2026 The suit, filed by Partee’s mother, claims employees failed to deescalate the argument between 22-year-old Joseph Watson and another individual in the restaurant, and that the restaurant chain failed to train its staff to handle the situation. — Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 18 Aug. 2026
Verb
Restaurant chains Chipotle and QDOBA pulled jalapeños last week. — Youri Benadjaoud, ABC News, 9 Aug. 2026 Most recently, in May 2026, Cal/OSHA issued the company six citations, following an incident during a fire in January 2026 when two workers were reportedly found locked inside a cold storage room that had been chained from the outside. — Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for chain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chain
  1. sequence
  2. obstacle
  3. bracelet
  4. bind
  5. connect
  6. train
  7. hurdle
  8. tie
Noun
  • One is called Palindrome meaning a word, phrase, number or sequence of symbols that reads the same backward as forward.
    — Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • But for Paterson, the most challenging scene was the opening sequence with a young Will Byers, played by Noah Schnapp, who was only 11 years old when Stranger Things debuted in 2016.
    — Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of sequence
Noun
  • Travelers leaving Ceuta and Melilla, Spain’s other territory in North Africa, are subject to exit checks at ports and airports, an obstacle for migrants who enter the territories illegally and hope to reach the European continent.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • The design is meant to move around any obstacles, including the free weights collection near your pilates mat, meaning no more sweaty spots in your home gym.
    — Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of obstacle
Noun
  • At the celebrations, Torres was also spotted wearing a rubber bracelet with a Spain flag that carried branding from the Guardia Civil — one of the country’s two national law enforcement agencies (the other being the Policia Nacional).
    — Laia Cervelló Herrero, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Michelle, 62, completed her ensemble with a stack of silver bracelets, diamond studs, and a pair of patent leather pumps.
    — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of bracelet
Verb
  • The flash-forward that closes the Lanterns series premiere was bound to strike a familiar chord with Kyle Chandler completists.
    — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 17 Aug. 2026
  • To bind it, the artists crafted a mortar using a mix of slaked lime (calcium hydroxide) and blood.
    — Mike McRae August 17, New Atlas, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of bind
Verb
  • But alongside it, and in dialogue with it, is a shadow that’s closely connected to another set of ideas, which says, actually people are not equal.
    — John Blake, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Scientists have developed a technique called eGRASP, which makes a connection glow green only where a neuron tagged during learning is connected to another neuron tagged during the same learning event.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of connect
Noun
  • According to the post, the deputy contacted BNSF Railway Police because of a string of recent train burglaries in the area.
    — Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The following day, Alex Zouaghi was back on the train—this time, to Glasgow.
    — Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of train
Noun
  • Russia's small and medium businesses already have been hit hard by tax increases, regulatory hurdles and, most recently, a fuel crisis from attacks on oil refineries.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Harper Hutton, 12, of Aurora Flyers, placed second in the girls pentathlon high jump, fourth in the pentathlon 80-meter hurdles and pentathlon long jump and fifth in the girls pentathlon shot put.
    — Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of hurdle
Verb
  • The next batter, Sogard, pulled a hanging breaking ball from Hentges off the Green Monster, driving in Monasterio and tying the game.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Right-hander Ben Joyce, who had not given up a run in any of his first six games, was a strike away from ending it when the Rangers’ Wyatt Langford blooped a 102 mph pitch into right field for a game-tying double.
    — Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of tie

Phrases Containing chain

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chagrins
chain
chained
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Cite this Entry

“Chain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chain. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on chain

Nglish: Translation of chain for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about chain

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