chain reaction
nounDefinition of chain reaction
1a
: 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
Keep scrolling for more
Other Words from chain reaction
chain-react
\ ˈchān-rē-ˈakt 
\
intransitive verb
\
intransitive verb
Examples of chain reaction in a Sentence
Increased oil prices could trigger a chain reaction in the economy.
Recent Examples on the Web
The state party has ignored DNC ultimatums and blown off deadlines to hold new officer elections, setting off a chain reaction that has thrown Alabama’s participation in next year’s presidential primaries up in the air. — al, "Is there hope in hell for Alabama Democrats?," 24 Aug. 2019 The danger for Mr Putin now is that the protests will trigger a chain reaction throughout Russia. — The Economist, "Protests in Moscow show that Putin’s critics are getting stronger," 15 Aug. 2019 Gauff’s breakout run to the fourth round last month at the All England Club set off a chain reaction of sorts, leading to Baptiste’s upset of world No. — Andy Kostka, USA TODAY, "Caty McNally, 17, beats Christina McHale to reach quarterfinals of Citi Open," 1 Aug. 2019 Damage to the carbon fiber liner then propagated and caused it to burst, starting a chain reaction that annihilated the rocket and its payload. — Joe Pappalardo, Popular Mechanics, "SpaceX and NASA Reach Agreement on Astronaut Safety," 20 Aug. 2018 That collision—called nuclear fission—releases more neutrons that react with more atoms, creating a chain reaction. — National Geographic, "What is nuclear energy and is it a viable resource?," 26 Mar. 2019 In essence, the nerve agent triggers a protein chain reaction, resulting in an uncontrolled bombardment of body tissue and organs with nerve signals by a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine. — Deutsche Welle, USA TODAY, "Novichok: What is Russia's dangerous poison used in ex-spy Sergei Skripal's case?," 13 Mar. 2018 Just as a co-worker’s stress can spread to others via late-night emails and terse hallway exchanges, so too can a powerful colleague’s apparent apathy set off a disastrous chain reaction. — Sarah Todd, Quartz at Work, "Why it’s so dangerous when star employees check out," 2 July 2019 Their surgeries were performed a day apart in March and that set off a chain reaction. — Mola Lenghi, CBS News, "Sisters who donated kidneys set off chain reaction of giving," 2 July 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'chain reaction.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more