chew

verb

\ ˈchü

chewed; chewing; chews

Definition of chew

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

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

chew

noun

Definition of chew (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : the act of chewing

2 : something for chewing

Other Words from chew Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about chew

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Other Words from chew

Verb

chewable \ ˈchü-ə-bəl

\ adjective

chewer noun

chewy \ ˈchü-ē

\ adjective

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

Thiem casually sat in his gray sideline seat, bounced his legs and chewed on an energy bar, furtively glancing at Nadal. — Howard Fendrich, Twin Cities, "Dirty dozen: Rafael Nadal wins 12th French Open for 18th Slam title," 9 June 2019 That tells researchers that T. rex chewed its food, rather than swallowing it whole. — Rachael Lallensack, Smithsonian, "Here Are 12 Things You Might Miss in the Smithsonian’s New Fossil Hall," 7 June 2019 These are four world-class leagues that no other country has and that chew up the calendar so completely that in October all four of them are going simultaneously. — Mitch Albom, Detroit Free Press, "Mitch Albom: World Cup 2018 fever finds an unlikely patient," 24 June 2018 When buying a feeder, be sure to pick a model made of metal or high-quality polycarbonate so that squirrels can’t chew through it. — Jean Nick, Good Housekeeping, "8 Ways To Keep Squirrels Away From Your Bird Feeders," 20 June 2017 Bennett said that patients of his have chewed off the tips of their own tongues and scratched their corneas. — Nicola Twilley, The New Yorker, "The Neuroscience of Pain," 9 May 2016 In April 2017, he was sentenced to six months in jail after admitting to using counterfeit $50 bills to pay for chewing tobacco, lottery tickets and other items in Hillsboro and Beaverton. — oregonlive.com, "Colt Lyerla, former Oregon Ducks football player, accused of attacking girlfriend," 19 June 2019 The city council unanimously approved an ordinance Tuesday night that would prohibit the sale of various nicotine-laden products, including cigarettes, chewing tobacco and e-cigarettes. — Vandana Ravikumar, USA TODAY, "Smokers, beware: Beverly Hills says it is the first US city to ban tobacco sales," 5 June 2019 Photo: Indian Coast Guard/Reuters Many of the Jarawas started chewing tobacco and consuming salt after coming into contact with the outside world, experts said. — Rajesh Roy, WSJ, "The Struggle to Retrieve Slain American Missionary’s Body From a Remote Island," 27 Nov. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Then, there are the dozens of different types of sweet-hot-tart Mexican candy, including chews and gummies. — Daniela Galarza, New York Times, "‘Tajín Is a Lifestyle’: An Appreciation of the Mexican Seasoning Mix," 10 June 2019 Most boxes are stocked with two treats from conscientious brands—like Portland’s Cycle Dog and California’s Bobby + Bambi’s—two toys, and a chew or stylish accessory (hello, bandanas!). — Sunset, "10 Best Healthy Pet Treats," 22 Jan. 2018 Use buttercream to attach a pink Necco wafer or a small circle of pink fruit chew for the snout, then pipe small brown buttercream vertical lines for nostrils. — Woman's Day Kitchen, Woman's Day, "Spring Animal Cupcakes," 7 Mar. 2019 The Vertical event is the high-jump—a dog runs and leaps for a chew toy suspended just off the dock and raised with each round of competition. — Christopher Solomon, Outside Online, "This Whippet Is One of the World's Great Athletes," 18 June 2018 Adults skeletonize leaves, chew flowers, and may completely defoliate plants while larvae feed on lawn and garden plant roots. — The Editors, Good Housekeeping, "The 10 Most Destructive Garden Insects and How to Get Rid of Them," 10 July 2018 With wonderful, affordable wines and classic cocktails to go alongside perfect chew-to-crust ratio pies, this takes a great dinner and movie night up a level further. — Krista Simmons, Condé Nast Traveler, "35 Best Restaurants in Los Angeles," 27 Feb. 2018 Problem #4: His training pad has basically become a chew toy. — Good Housekeeping, "4 Smart Fixes for Your Biggest Puppy Potty Training Problems," 22 Mar. 2016 The chews grew quickly in popularity and now make up about 84 percent of her business, Hoffman said. — Heidi Groover, The Seattle Times, "Washington to ‘reevaluate’ marijuana edibles, crack down on products that might appeal to kids," 5 Oct. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'chew.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.