food chains

plural of food chain
as in hierarchies
a series of types of living things in which each one uses the next lower member of the series as a source of food Sharks eat fish that are lower in the food chain. animals that are at the top of the food chain

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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 food chains Fast food chains such as Taco Bell, McDonald's and Wendy's also have footprints at Walmart stores, along with several regional operators such as Auntie Anne's. Nicholas P. Brown, USA Today, 8 June 2026 These highly aggressive fish pose a threat to native species and can disrupt food chains by eating and outcompeting native fish, according to the United States Geological Survey. Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 8 June 2026 Italy’s already squeezed farmers are under strain by large supermarket and food chains. Matteo Moschella, NBC news, 4 June 2026 Here are the latest specials and deals announced by fast food chains in news releases, social media posts, or on their websites. Fielding Buck, Oc Register, 3 June 2026 Which fast food chains use beef tallow today Beef tallow never disappeared entirely, and a handful of chains have either kept it or brought it back. Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 18 May 2026 And people shouldn’t bash him for highlighting a California culinary institution that’s one of the better legacy fast food chains out there, even though the Barstow Taco is, well, whatever. Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026 The drinks are also more profitable for fast food chains than the standard soda fountain drinks or plain coffees. ABC News, 28 Apr. 2026 Fast food chains, thirsty for new ways to grow, are amping up their beverage offerings. Dee-Ann Durbin, Fortune, 28 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for food chains
Noun
  • The result is a club conceived without the hierarchies that characterize some of its London counterparts—members shaped not by title or industry, but by curiosity and shared sensibility.
    Rachel Ingram, Robb Report, 21 June 2026
  • To that point, human history was a tale of conquest and caste and rigid hierarchies, a world where the strong dominated the weak, where power and wealth and status flowed through lineage and the many were ruled by the few.
    Hilary Gowins, Chicago Tribune, 20 June 2026
Noun
  • When in a forest, stay in proximity to shorter tree groupings.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 30 June 2026
  • When in a forest, stay in proximity to shorter tree groupings.
    KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT, Kansas City Star, 21 June 2026
Noun
  • Over the next couple of decades, Saez advanced through the ranks of the bank and played a key role in integrating systems when SunTrust merged with BB&T in 2019 to form Truist Bank.
    Kelly Yamanouchi, AJC.com, 30 June 2026
  • While the ranks of high school and college players are steadily increasing, and ESPN’s buy-in has delivered a boost, the sport hopes to one day have its Mighty Ducks moment.
    Dade Hayes, Deadline, 30 June 2026

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“Food chains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/food%20chains. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.

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