chew

To press and break something with your teeth, usually food before you swallow it.

• Chew your food slowly.
• He chewed gum during the lesson.
• The dog has been chewing on a bone.

How to use it: chew on something (The puppy chewed on my shoe.)

Similar words: masticate

Common phrases: chew food, chew gum, chew on something

To break food or other things into smaller pieces with your teeth.

• Chew your food slowly.
• The dog chewed a hole in my slipper.
• Do you chew gum at work?

How to use it: chew on something (The puppy chewed on my shoe.); chew through something (The mouse chewed through the bag.)

Similar words: gnaw, masticate

Common phrases: chew food, chew gum, chew through something, chew on something

To think carefully about an idea or problem for some time.

• I'll chew over the idea.
• She chewed on his question all evening.
• We've been chewing over several possible solutions.

How to use it: chew over something (Let me chew over your suggestion.); chew on something (We need time to chew on that idea.)

Similar words: consider, ponder, think over

Common phrases: chew over something, chew on something

A small sweet that takes time to eat because it is soft and sticky.

• Would you like a fruit chew?
• These caramel chews stick to my teeth.
• She bought a bag of strawberry chews.

Similar words: chewy sweet

Common phrases: a fruit chew, a caramel chew

An act of pressing food or another thing between your teeth.

• Give it a chew.
• After a few chews, he swallowed the bread.
• She gave the gum one last chew.

Similar words: mastication

Common phrases: a quick chew, give something a chew