chewed; chewing; chews
1
: to crush, grind, or gnaw (something, such as food) with or as if with the teeth : masticate
2
: to injure, destroy, or consume as if by chewing
—usually used with up
chewing up profits
: to chew something
specifically
: to chew tobacco
see also:
-er/-est
1
: requiring chewing
—used especially of candy
2
of wine
: having or producing a dense, full-bodied mouthfeel
… a big wine with chewy tannins and a delicious chocolaty edge.—
Alison Napjus, Wine Spectator, 15 May 2006
Alison Napjus, Wine Spectator, 15 May 2006The wine feels thick and sticky on the palate, with a soft, chewy finish.—Monica Larner, Wine Enthusiast Magazine, October 2012
Monica Larner, Wine Enthusiast Magazine, October 2012Examples of chew in a Sentence
Verb
We were taught to chew our food thoroughly before swallowing.
He chews with his mouth open.
You're not allowed to chew gum in class.
A mouse chewed through the cord.
The dog chewed a hole in the rug.
Recent Examples on the Web
Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 29 May 2026
Why Crocodiles Perform The ‘Death Roll’ Crocodiles cannot chew food in the same way mammals do.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
The Bishops had the next possession after the goal for over a minute and a half, then Avery Smith picked off a pass from Shea, intended for Markarian in front of the net, and Dartmouth was able to chew down the rest of the clock to seal the victory over the Bishops.
—Zach McMahon, Boston Herald, 27 May 2026
Also, don’t try to block the entry to the nest that’s in a wall or behind shutters because angry yellowjackets can chew through wallboard to escape and emerge indoors, says Crawley.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 23 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for chew
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Verb
The tension inside Chase Center was thick enough to chew.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 29 May 2026
Why Crocodiles Perform The ‘Death Roll’ Crocodiles cannot chew food in the same way mammals do.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
The Bishops had the next possession after the goal for over a minute and a half, then Avery Smith picked off a pass from Shea, intended for Markarian in front of the net, and Dartmouth was able to chew down the rest of the clock to seal the victory over the Bishops.
—Zach McMahon, Boston Herald, 27 May 2026
Also, don’t try to block the entry to the nest that’s in a wall or behind shutters because angry yellowjackets can chew through wallboard to escape and emerge indoors, says Crawley.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 23 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for chew
Cite this Entry
“Chew.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chew. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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