chew

[tʃuː]

[tʃu]

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chewed - chew

Chew means to move your teeth and tongue together to crush food into smaller pieces so you can swallow it. This action helps break down what you eat, making it easier for your body to digest.

When we talk about chewing, most people think of eating - specifically, they remember the sound their mom or dad used to make when saying "chew, chew" to remind them not to swallow big pieces of food whole. But it's also possible to chew on things that aren't meant for eating. For example, if you're worried and biting your lip, then you might be chewing on something in a way that isn't good for you. If someone is nervously fidgeting with a piece of gum or a pen, they might be "chewing" too - not necessarily to eat the thing, but just because it's what their hands are doing while they're thinking about something else.

How common is "chew"?

Word chew is considered uncommon in modern English.
It appears most frequently in fiction texts and less often in other writings.

Definitions

noun

The act of chewing; mastication with the mouth.
Example: I popped the gum into my mouth and gave it a chew.
Level of chewiness.
A small sweet, such as a taffy, that is eaten by chewing.
Example: Phillip purchased a bag of licorice chews at the drugstore.
Chewing tobacco.
Example: The school had banned chew and smokes from the school grounds, even for adults.
A plug or wad of chewing tobacco; chaw or a chaw.
Example: The ballplayers sat on the bench watching the rain, glumly working their chews.
The condition of something being torn or ground up mechanically.

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verb

To crush with the teeth by repeated closing and opening of the jaws; done to food to soften it and break it down by the action of saliva before it is swallowed.
Example: Make sure to chew thoroughly, and don't talk with your mouth full!
To grind, tear, or otherwise degrade or demolish something with teeth or as with teeth.
Example: He keeps his feed in steel drums to prevent the mice from chewing holes in the feed-sacks.
To think about something; to ponder; to chew over.
Example: The professor stood at the blackboard, chalk in hand, and chewed the question the student had asked.

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Real examples of "chewed" in context

Henry Cavill on His Warhammer Hobby, the Least Searched Questions About Him & Grilling on Set

Interview

Before you chewed it or after?

12:52