chain-smoke

American  

[cheyn-smohk] / ˈtʃeɪnˌsmoʊk /

verb (used with or without object)

chain-smoked, chain-smoking

1. to smoke continually, as by lighting one cigarette, cigar, etc., from the preceding one.

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chain-smoke British  

verb

1. to smoke (cigarettes, etc) continually, esp lighting one from the preceding one

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Other Word Forms

• chain smoker
  noun
• chain-smoker
  noun

Etymology

Origin of chain-smoke

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

chain-smoke chain-smoked chain-smoking

Along with imploring D’Angelo not to chain-smoke during interviews for his 1995 debut album, “Brown Sugar,” Ms. Williams would put in time with artists from Puff Daddy’s Bad Boy Records, L.A.

From New York Times ● Sep. 6, 2018

Although Bill Douglas will not put his lanky legs on the high court's august desk or chain-smoke cigarets during hearings, he may often wish he could.

From Time Magazine Archive

Setting forth last month, armed with a hoard of cigars to chain-smoke, rotund Minister Erhard announced that he was going East with an open mind.

From Time Magazine Archive

Whenever the tone of the film tilts toward the overly reverent, Waters comes in with a bit of wisecracking, truthtelling remembrance: Oliver chain-smoked, swore, was stubborn, walked in the forest “like a crazy person.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026

Now one splayed comfortably across a wicker couch, a few chain-smoked and all gripped cell phones as a humid Alabama summer morning dampened the air.

From The Guardian ● Aug. 15, 2019

At the entrance to one alley, middle-aged men chain-smoked and played cards at round tables outside a restaurant.

From The New Yorker ● Jul. 16, 2018

He pontificated, chain-smoked and wheezed, retailed anecdotes, was charming and spellbinding and ghastly.

From Salon ● Nov. 21, 2012

White men and women drank, chain-smoked, munched pretzels and other eatables, gossiped eagerly and played darts.

From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane

Kerewin is a memorable heroine, a chain-smoking, stumpy, frizzy-haired genius of a woman who can outfight, outfish and outwit anyone.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026

Eugene Levert, chain-smoking next to a stack of books while wearing a vertical blue-striped button-down and khaki slacks, looked the scholarly mirror of Doug Lamplugh, in a horizontal blue-striped polo and khaki shorts.

From Slate ● May 4, 2026

But across town a young Ukrainian, Vladislav Derkavets, was already activating the four incendiary devices, chain-smoking to steady his nerves.

From BBC ● Mar. 11, 2026

The chain-smoking queen quickly endeared herself to Danes with her wit and down-to-earth manners.

From Seattle Times ● Jan. 11, 2024

As for Lola—my high-living, chain-smoking cousin—here she was, still as lean and fit as a racing dog, and still faithful.

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan