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
Orange life jackets bobbed in the water, where bystanders rushed to form a human chain for passing survivors to safety.
—
CBS News, 21 Oct. 2024
Another video showed police entering the encampment as demonstrators appeared to form a human chain.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 30 Apr. 2024
Myth: If someone is caught in a rip current, form a human chain to rescue them
The 'human chain' is a technique where dozens of people link together, often holding hands, to form a chain.
—Alex Perry, The Enquirer, 15 July 2024
Columbia severely restricted access to campus Tuesday after demonstrators seized an academic building and blocked the entrance with a human chain.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 30 Apr. 2024
Outside the building, a Ph.D. student at Columbia Journalism School said she was injured and cared for a classmate who was hurt while rolling down the stairs after a group of protesters formed a human chain to block the NYPD from gaining access to Hamilton.
—Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 21 May 2024
Pro-Palestinian protesters create a human chain around an encampment set up at Northeastern University in Boston on Thursday.
—Josh Feldman, NBC News, 28 Apr. 2024
On Monday night, the NYPD arrested more than 100 protesters at NYU, including faculty—who formed a human chain around the encampment to protect students.
—Sanya Mansoor, TIME, 23 Apr. 2024
Firefighters and emergency responders formed a human chain to protect the most precious artifacts, including the Crown of Thorns alleged to have been worn by Jesus during his crucifixion, Time reported.
—Peter Aitken, Fox News, 15 Dec. 2023
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.
CBS News, 21 Oct. 2024
Another video showed police entering the encampment as demonstrators appeared to form a human chain.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 30 Apr. 2024
Myth: If someone is caught in a rip current, form a human chain to rescue them
The 'human chain' is a technique where dozens of people link together, often holding hands, to form a chain.
—Alex Perry, The Enquirer, 15 July 2024
Columbia severely restricted access to campus Tuesday after demonstrators seized an academic building and blocked the entrance with a human chain.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 30 Apr. 2024
Outside the building, a Ph.D. student at Columbia Journalism School said she was injured and cared for a classmate who was hurt while rolling down the stairs after a group of protesters formed a human chain to block the NYPD from gaining access to Hamilton.
—Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 21 May 2024
Pro-Palestinian protesters create a human chain around an encampment set up at Northeastern University in Boston on Thursday.
—Josh Feldman, NBC News, 28 Apr. 2024
On Monday night, the NYPD arrested more than 100 protesters at NYU, including faculty—who formed a human chain around the encampment to protect students.
—Sanya Mansoor, TIME, 23 Apr. 2024
Firefighters and emergency responders formed a human chain to protect the most precious artifacts, including the Crown of Thorns alleged to have been worn by Jesus during his crucifixion, Time reported.
—Peter Aitken, Fox News, 15 Dec. 2023
Dictionary Entries Near a human chain
Cite this Entry
“A human chain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%20human%20chain. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share