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
That loud popcorn chewing or the rustling of the wrappers. Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 28 Nov. 2023 So the chip brand Doritos created Doritos Silent, a crunch cancellation software that removes the sound of chewing from voice chat, Zoom or any call that uses headphones. Sydney Page, Washington Post, 27 Nov. 2023 Common symptoms of periodontitis are bad breath, a bad taste in the mouth that won't go away, red and/or puffy gums, bleeding from the gums, pain when chewing, loose teeth, tooth sensitivity and gums pulling away from the teeth. Ashlyn Messier, Fox News, 25 Nov. 2023 Try eating slowly, chew your food thoroughly, and not rush your meal. Rebecca Jaspan, Mph, Rd, Health, 23 Nov. 2023 The Dodgers: For making my year and (again) choking before chewing on the wishbone. Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Nov. 2023 Ollie mostly opts for chewing on the table or a napkin. Jackie Cooperman, New York Times, 18 Nov. 2023 The hope is that this will be enough to keep rabbits, pigs and wallabies out, all of which chew on the reserve’s plant life and slow vegetation recovery. Rina Diane Caballar, Discover Magazine, 12 Nov. 2023 Caught in between workers and higher-ups during contentious return-to-office mandates, middle managers have often bit off more than they were trained to chew and are experiencing high levels of burnout. Chloe Berger, Fortune, 8 Nov. 2023
Noun
Runners can get this sustenance from one to two packets of energy gels or chews from brands like Gu or Science in Sport. Victor Mather, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2023 Bartlett pears: Pears provide a touch of sweetness and a bit of chew in the mixture. Pam Lolley, Southern Living, 9 Nov. 2023 Furthermore, these chews offer dental benefits by promoting good oral hygiene. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 28 Aug. 2023 The burgers are dense, in a good way, with more chew to them than traditional burgers. Ann Taylor Pittman, Southern Living, 2 Nov. 2023 Plus, gazing out a plane window after taking a chew becomes an even more zen experience. Hillary Maglin, Travel + Leisure, 20 Oct. 2023 Their pet chews are tested by third-party laboratories to guarantee safety, potency, and consistency. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 31 Aug. 2023 The chew is delightful, with more rigatoni heft than spaghetti stringiness. Kendra Vaculin, Bon Appétit, 25 Sep. 2023 The chew is closer to firm tofu or a portobello mushroom, or some cross of both. Tim Carman, Washington Post, 15 Sep. 2023 See More

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 7 Dec. 2023.

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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