# chewed

/ˈtʃud/ (US) · /tʃjˈuːd/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/chewed
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

the past tense of using your teeth to break food into small pieces before you swallow it.

For teachers: the past tense and past participle of 'chew'; refers to the action of crushing or grinding something with the teeth.

## Examples

- The dog chewed on his favorite toy for hours.
- She chewed her lip nervously while waiting for the exam results to be posted on the board.
- The cattle stood quietly in the shade and chewed their cud, seemingly indifferent to the hikers passing through the adjacent meadow.

## Usage notes

- The verb can be used transitively with a direct object or intransitively with the preposition 'on'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.