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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Recent Examples of food chains
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
PlushCare analyzed vanilla milkshakes from 14 different fast food chains.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
Beyond reactions from both fans and critics, other fast food chains — including Burger King and Wendy’s — were quick to take advantage of Kempczinski’s viral moment.
—Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 11 Apr. 2026
But there’s been a remarkable shift in the country’s restaurant landscape, with fast casual and fast food chains posting record-breaking growth in recent years.
—Vivian Song, CNN Money, 3 Apr. 2026
Not through explosions, but through slow, invisible leakage into marine ecosystems and food chains.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 25 Mar. 2026
Life at the bottom of the Mediterranean is adapting to the garbage, raising questions about food chains and ecosystem health that researchers are still working to understand.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 10 Mar. 2026
Finding them here tells scientists something about the food chains that existed just after a catastrophic die-off.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 27 Feb. 2026
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
PlushCare analyzed vanilla milkshakes from 14 different fast food chains.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
Beyond reactions from both fans and critics, other fast food chains — including Burger King and Wendy’s — were quick to take advantage of Kempczinski’s viral moment.
—Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 11 Apr. 2026
But there’s been a remarkable shift in the country’s restaurant landscape, with fast casual and fast food chains posting record-breaking growth in recent years.
—Vivian Song, CNN Money, 3 Apr. 2026
Not through explosions, but through slow, invisible leakage into marine ecosystems and food chains.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 25 Mar. 2026
Life at the bottom of the Mediterranean is adapting to the garbage, raising questions about food chains and ecosystem health that researchers are still working to understand.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 10 Mar. 2026
Finding them here tells scientists something about the food chains that existed just after a catastrophic die-off.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 27 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for food chains
Noun
-
New social hierarchies emerged.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Setting recent works among older ones is an effective element of LACMA’s overall plan to shed outworn hierarchies.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Sadiq The Oregon tight end is the luxury pick of this first round and could go lower than most expect, plus head coach Todd Monken has a history of using two-tight-end groupings.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Swap out pot groupings, change the placement or give existing pots a new coat of paint.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The split decision came after tense deliberations, with jurors initially sent back after one member broke ranks during polling, forcing further discussion before a final verdict was reached.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The effect of computers on the top ranks of the game has been different but no less profound.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Food chains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/food%20chains. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.
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