chew

1 of 2

verb

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 adjective
chewer noun
chewy 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

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
Nonetheless, there’s a lot here to chew on, along with many fine performances to relish, including particularly by Carradine and the incredibly evil McShane. Barry Garron, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Mar. 2024 Actual pro fighter Conor McGregor also pops up to chew scenery — and noses — as an unhinged enforcer named Knox. Devan Coggan, EW.com, 21 Mar. 2024 Fingers crossed there will at least be more to chew on, good or bad. Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2024 Another common trigger that both Dr. Voigt and Dr. Palomo have seen is local trauma—from brushing your teeth too aggressively, for example, accidentally biting the inside of your mouth while chewing, or diving into a bag of sharp Doritos. Jenna Ryu, SELF, 18 Mar. 2024 What’s ahead next week Investors will have more economic data and corporate events to chew on next week. Krystal Hur, CNN, 15 Mar. 2024 Experts said bone grafts done at such an early age could stunt facial growth, resulting in the upper lip looking pushed back and impairing basic tasks such as talking and chewing. Megan Rose, ProPublica, 6 Mar. 2024 When Salesian had a player at the free-throw line a minute later, Hunkin-Claytor ran to the scorer’s table, picked up two electrolyte pills from his team’s head trainer and quickly chewed the capsules before running back on defense. Nathan Canilao, The Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2024 This is especially helpful for autistic kids who may chew as a form of stimming. Laura Lu, Ms, Parents, 6 Mar. 2024
Noun
The cookies and candy chews stand in for the traditional savory snacks. Kimberly Stoney, Parents, 21 Mar. 2024 Consumers could buy athleisure apparel infused with CBD oil and feed their nervous pups CBD chews and snacks. Julie Creswell, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2024 Upon first chews, our tasters agreed that these chips would be the ones to beat. Sam Stone, Bon Appétit, 6 Mar. 2024 Most of them never see these trophies again as they’re funneled through various buyers, and the antlers are sometimes re-purposed and re-sold as dog chews or trinkets. Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 29 Feb. 2024 Meanwhile, the hearty little sticks of tempeh doused in that sweet soy sauce provide a firm, nutty chew. The Indianapolis Star, 25 Jan. 2024 The Veritas Farms Edibles Straight out of Colorado’s sustainable farms, the Veritas Farms sweet chews are a good alternative to oil used to relax before bedtime. Erin Michelle Newberg, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024 Pampering at home Back home, your lovable ball-of-fur can subscribe to Bark Box, which sends a monthly box of two toys, two bags of treats and one chew. Matt Keenan, Kansas City Star, 30 Jan. 2024 Products like chew, dip and snuff have been used by professional baseball players for decades and, whether intentional or otherwise, have led children who idolized them to adopt the same harmful habits. Kerry Watson, Baltimore Sun, 23 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'chew.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of chew was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near chew

Cite this Entry

“Chew.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chew. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

chew

1 of 2 verb
: to crush or grind with the teeth
chewable adjective
chewer noun
chewy adjective

chew

2 of 2 noun
1
: the act of chewing
2
: something for chewing
a chew of tobacco

More from Merriam-Webster on chew

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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