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
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 Imagine, for starters, showing a group of non-English speakers the present and past forms of verbs like boil (boil/boiled) and chew (chew/chewed). Sheon Han, WIRED, 4 Mar. 2024 When in doubt, trim the asparagus ends so you aren't left chewing for far too long on an inedible piece. Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 1 Mar. 2024 Give your readers an opinion to chew on and move forward with. April Rudin, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Water stains bloomed on the ceiling, evidence of leaking pipes chewed through by hungry rodents. Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2024 By dewdrops flare beauty in the morning Until an army of squash bugs land And eat, then drag their bellies From the carnage— Field mice chew their way Into the house. Joy Harjo, The New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2024 Bromley’s relatively small operation, which produces enough snow each season to cover about 135 acres in three or more feet of the stuff, chews through enough electricity each year to power about 100 homes. Popular Science, 21 Feb. 2024
Noun
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 chews feature chamomile and tryptophan alongside other natural ingredients known for their calming properties. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 5 Aug. 2023 Reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer until ribs are just tender but still have slight chew, 15 to 20 minutes. Kate Bradshaw, The Mercury News, 29 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 19 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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