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
On Wednesday, members of the Chattogram Port Berth and Terminal Operators Merchant Workers Unity Council formed a human chain in front of the port in protest of the manner the port’s operator handles wages and benefits.
—
Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 11 Sep. 2025
Organizers formed a human chain to allow players to leave without being mobbed.
—Omkar Khandekar, NPR, 8 June 2025
Authorities allowed a group of Iranian students to form a human chain Thursday at its underground enrichment site at Fordo, an area with incredibly tight security built into a mountain to defend against possible airstrikes.
—Giada Zampano, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2025
Late Tuesday, students linked arms and formed a human chain around their temporary encampment — an effort to prevent it from being broken up.
—Amanda McCard, Hartford Courant, 24 Apr. 2025
In one Michigan community, a human chain helped a small bookstore transport its entire inventory, one book at a time, to its new location.
—Lorraine Berry, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2025
On Tuesday, protesters formed a human chain outside the Israeli parliament, also known as the Knesset, to demand the release of all remaining hostages held in Gaza.
—Jeremy Diamond, CNN, 14 Jan. 2025
Nashville Tennessean Thousands are expected to form a human chain across midtown Nashville on March 27 to mark the one-year anniversary of the deadly Covenant School shooting.
—Rachel Wegner, The Tennessean, 20 Mar. 2024
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Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 11 Sep. 2025
Organizers formed a human chain to allow players to leave without being mobbed.
—Omkar Khandekar, NPR, 8 June 2025
Authorities allowed a group of Iranian students to form a human chain Thursday at its underground enrichment site at Fordo, an area with incredibly tight security built into a mountain to defend against possible airstrikes.
—Giada Zampano, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2025
Late Tuesday, students linked arms and formed a human chain around their temporary encampment — an effort to prevent it from being broken up.
—Amanda McCard, Hartford Courant, 24 Apr. 2025
In one Michigan community, a human chain helped a small bookstore transport its entire inventory, one book at a time, to its new location.
—Lorraine Berry, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2025
On Tuesday, protesters formed a human chain outside the Israeli parliament, also known as the Knesset, to demand the release of all remaining hostages held in Gaza.
—Jeremy Diamond, CNN, 14 Jan. 2025
Nashville Tennessean Thousands are expected to form a human chain across midtown Nashville on March 27 to mark the one-year anniversary of the deadly Covenant School shooting.
—Rachel Wegner, The Tennessean, 20 Mar. 2024
Cite this Entry
“A human chain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%20human%20chain. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.
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