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

There are the crunchy moms who suggest chewing them off, saying the nails are usually soft and flexible and the baby won’t care. — Carrie Melago, Washington Post, "The unique horror of trimming a newborn’s nails (and the lesson it taught me about parenting)," 31 July 2019 My male likes to just sit and chew it in his mouth like a wad of gum. — Christina Butan, PEOPLE.com, "This 'Indestructible' Dog Toy Is the Number One Best-Seller on Amazon — and It's Only $4," 26 July 2019 Rumination is the process by which cows regurgitate previously consumed feed and chew it a second time. — Stephanie Blaszczyk, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Wisconsin dairy cows relax in sand, drink bovine Gatorade and visit the cow 'car wash' to beat summer heat," 19 July 2019 Lawmakers have been chewing on wildfire issues for two years. — Los Angeles Times, "With new California wildfire law, Newsom didn’t let perfect be the enemy of good," 18 July 2019 The picture should become more sharply focused after the Giants face Milwaukee and Colorado in two ballparks that have chewed them alive. — Henry Schulman, SFChronicle.com, "Giants open second half with pressing trade questions and a sliver of hope," 11 July 2019 Now, chew on this: Volkswagen is not an official sponsor of the ICC Cricket World Cup. — Jaideep Vaidya, Quartz India, "India may have been knocked out, but mega brands had a field day during cricket World Cup," 10 July 2019 Don't worry—the rope on this bridge is much more durable than the one in the movie and is ready to be chewed and gnawed on. — Tainaya Nash, House Beautiful, "Etsy is Selling an Indiana Jones-Themed Cat Bridge For Your Home," 25 June 2019 Dramatically rising education costs have chewed a hole in the millennial generation’s bank accounts. — oregonlive.com, "The average young adult in U.S. today has a lot less money than 20 years ago, potentially upending politics," 3 June 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Some of the mitzvah projects during this event will include assembling school supplies for children in foster care, assembling sandwiches for local needy families, making chew toys for dogs and making slipper socks for a veterans nursing home. — Sergio Carmona, sun-sentinel.com, "Synagogue’s open house to include mitzvah projects," 1 Aug. 2019 The tawny pastry itself is only lightly sweetened, dense and slightly crunchy at the outside, like most good doughnuts, with a vaguely oily nuttiness and an almost substantial chew. — Peter Meehan, latimes.com, "All about the epic strawberry doughnuts from the Donut Man," 25 June 2019 Last year, Wayfair launched the Archie & Oscar line of pet furnishings with nearly 1,000 pieces, including a gray rattan domed cat lounger and a white Chippendale-style dog gate made of chew-resistant wood. — Jura Koncius, Washington Post, "Custom wood kennels and memory foam beds: Welcome to the wild world of modern pet furniture," 17 July 2019 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

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.