chew

1 of 2

verb

ˈchü 

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

ˈchü-ə-bəl 

adjective

chewer noun

chewy

ˈchü-ē 

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

Synonyms

Verb

• bite (on)
• champ
• chaw
• chomp (on)
• crunch (on)
• gnaw (on)
• masticate
• nibble

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

Nvidia has been preparing the release of the 50 Series, which couple stellar visual performance with the power and flexibility needed to run modern AI applications, including chewing through huge sets of training data. —K. Thor Jensen, PCMAG, 28 Jan. 2025

Near-daily use over several months—along with a teething baby chewing on the corners—revealed the cover was very durable and held up without damage. —Chaunie Brusie, Rn, Parents, 23 Jan. 2025

Noun

There was just the right amount of chew to the finished cookies. —Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Jan. 2025

Snack bars, bags, hydration tablets, chews, and other nutrition options are available. —Will McGough, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024

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

Phrases Containing chew

• bite off more than one can chew
• chew off
• chew out
• chew over
• chew (someone) up and spit (him or her) out
• chew toy
• chew up

Kids Definition

chew

1 of 2 verb

ˈchü 

: to crush or grind with the teeth

chewable

-ə-bəl 

adjective

chewer noun

chewy

ˈchü-ē 

adjective

chew

2 of 2 noun

1

: the act of chewing

2

: something for chewing

a chew of tobacco