chew

American  

[choo] / tʃu /

verb (used with object)

1. to crush or grind with the teeth; masticate.

2. to crush, damage, injure, etc., as if by chewing (often followed byup ).

   The faulty paper feeder chewed the letters up.

3. to make by or as if by chewing.

   The puppy chewed a hole in my slipper.

4. to meditate on; consider deliberately (often followed byover ).

   He chewed the problem over in his mind.

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verb (used without object)

1. to perform the act of crushing or grinding with the teeth.

2. Informal. to chew tobacco.

3. to meditate.

noun

1. an act or instance of chewing.

2. something chewed or intended for chewing.

   a chew of tobacco; taffy chews.

verb phrase

1. chew out to scold harshly.

   The sergeant chewed out the recruits.

idioms

1. chew the fat, to converse at length in a relaxed manner; chat: Also chew the rag.

   They liked to sit around chewing the fat.

chew British  

/ tʃuː /

verb

1. to work the jaws and teeth in order to grind (food); masticate

2. to bite repeatedly

   she chewed her nails anxiously

3. (intr) to use chewing tobacco

4. slang

   1. to argue over a point

   2. to talk idly; gossip

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noun

1. the act of chewing

2. something that is chewed

   a chew of tobacco

chew More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing chew

• bite off more than one can chew

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Other Word Forms

• chewable adjective
• chewer noun
• unchewed adjective
• well-chewed adjective

Etymology

Origin of chew

before 1000; Middle English chewen, Old English cēowan; cognate with Old High German kiuwan ( German kauen )

Example Sentences

Those few boos were silly but they probably reflected the lack of something to cheer about, the lack of red meat to chew on.

From BBC • Mar. 28, 2026

In these big games, he doesn’t just chew the scenery, he orders it rare and asks for seconds.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

Odor compounds are released as we chew or sip, traveling from the mouth to the nose though the nasal pharynx at the back of throat.

From Science Daily • Feb. 9, 2026

Let’s agree to this starting point: The new governor can’t just chew gum and walk.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 8, 2026

I chew every bite ten times before I swallow.

From "Wintergirls" by Laurie Halse Anderson

Related Words

• bite
• chomp
• gnaw
• nibble