chew

1 of 2

verb

ˈchü 

chewed; chewing; chews

transitive verb

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

intransitive verb

: to chew something

specifically : to chew tobacco

chewable

ˈchü-ə-bəl 

adjective

chewer noun

chewy

ˈchü-ē 

adjective

chew

2 of 2

noun

1

: the act of chewing

2

: something for chewing

Phrases

chew on

: to think about : ponder

chewing on the new developments

chew the fat or less commonly chew the rag

: to make friendly familiar conversation : chat

Synonyms

Verb

• bite (on)
• champ
• chaw
• chomp (on)
• crunch (on)
• gnaw (on)
• masticate
• nibble

Examples 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

Verb

Letting Pets Damage the Tree Curious pets can cause serious damage to your tree by knocking it over or chewing on it. —Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Dec. 2024

Sitting in her highchair in just a diaper, Townes babbled happily while attempting to chew the meat as juices ran down her body. —Emma Aerin Becker, People.com, 12 Dec. 2024

Noun

Hard chews are made with natural ingredients like chamomile, ginger, and valerian root, while soft chews are made with ingredients like passion flower, lemon root, and ashwagandha. —Lydia Kariuki, The Mercury News, 3 Dec. 2024

This point was reinforced when we were asked to identify the source of chew marks on a prickly pear. —Ben Goldfarb, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Old English cēowan; akin to Old High German kiuwan to chew, Russian zhevat'

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing chew

• bite off more than one can chew
• chew off
• chew out
• chew over
• chew (someone) up and spit (him or her) out
• chew toy
• chew up

Kids Definition

chew

1 of 2 verb

ˈchü 

: to crush or grind with the teeth

chewable

-ə-bəl 

adjective

chewer noun

chewy

ˈchü-ē 

adjective

chew

2 of 2 noun

1

: the act of chewing

2

: something for chewing

a chew of tobacco