chain reaction
noun
1
a
: a series of events so related to each other that each one initiates the next
b
: a number of events triggered by the same initial event
2
: a self-sustaining chemical or nuclear reaction yielding energy or products that cause further reactions of the same kind
Examples of chain reaction in a Sentence
Increased oil prices could trigger a chain reaction in the economy.
Recent Examples on the Web
Something — or a chain reaction of somethings, most of them presumably climate-related — has spread across the surface of the Earth, destabilizing human civilization and making our planet unlivable.
—
David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 31 Aug. 2024
The outage, which apparently stemmed from a faulty software update from security provider CrowdStrike, set off a chain reaction that took down PCs and servers at airlines, TV stations, banks, hospitals, and countless other organizations.
—Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 19 July 2024
Nath suspects the wide mix of autoantibodies seen in patients points to some earlier chain reaction in the immune system, perhaps from fragments of lingering virus.
—Byjennifer Couzin-Frankel, science.org, 21 June 2024
According to experts, battery fires are tougher to extinguish than conventional ones due to the thermal runaway effect — a chain reaction within battery cells.
—Afp, Fortune Asia, 13 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for chain reaction 
David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 31 Aug. 2024
The outage, which apparently stemmed from a faulty software update from security provider CrowdStrike, set off a chain reaction that took down PCs and servers at airlines, TV stations, banks, hospitals, and countless other organizations.
—Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 19 July 2024
Nath suspects the wide mix of autoantibodies seen in patients points to some earlier chain reaction in the immune system, perhaps from fragments of lingering virus.
—Byjennifer Couzin-Frankel, science.org, 21 June 2024
According to experts, battery fires are tougher to extinguish than conventional ones due to the thermal runaway effect — a chain reaction within battery cells.
—Afp, Fortune Asia, 13 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for chain reaction
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'chain reaction.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near chain reaction
Cite this Entry
“Chain reaction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chain%20reaction. Accessed 12 Sep. 2024.
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