chew
word
/ˈtʃu/
choo
/tʃjˈuː/
choo
Definition
To crush food in your mouth with your teeth before swallowing it. It can also mean to bite something repeatedly, not always to eat it.
Usage & Nuances
Common with food: 'chew your food well' and 'chew slowly'. Also used for non-food objects like 'chew gum', 'chew a pencil', or 'a dog chewed my shoe'. 'Chew on' can mean physically bite repeatedly or think about an idea for a while.
Spanish: masticarPortuguese (BR): mastigarPortuguese (PT): mastigarChinese (Simplified): 咀嚼Chinese (Traditional): 咀嚼Hindi: चबानाArabic: يمضغBengali: চিবানোRussian: жеватьJapanese: 噛むVietnamese: nhaiKorean: 씹다Turkish: çignemekUrdu: چباناIndonesian: mengunyah
Example Sentences
Please chew your food slowly.
basic
The baby is learning to chew solid food.
basic
My dog likes to chew old shoes.
basic
I was so nervous in the meeting that I kept chewing my pen cap.
natural
Here, chew on this mint before we go inside.
natural
I'll chew on your idea and get back to you tomorrow.
natural