# chewing

/ˈtʃuɪŋ/ (US) · /tʃjˈuːɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/chewing
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 2. the act of mastication

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

the physical act of crushing food with your teeth.

For teachers: the physiological act of mastication, serving as the first stage of the digestive process.

- Proper chewing is important for your body to get nutrients from food.
- The patient experienced significant discomfort during chewing due to a misalignment of the jaw following the accident.

### 3. tobacco or khat use

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

the habit of keeping tobacco or certain leaves in your mouth to release their juices.

For teachers: the consumption of stimulants, such as tobacco or khat, by holding and grinding the material against the cheek.

- He gave up chewing years ago because it was bad for his teeth.
- In certain cultures, the social chewing of khat leaves is a traditional practice that facilitates community bonding and long conversations.

## Examples

- Loud chewing can be very annoying to other people.
- Proper chewing is the first step of digestion because it mixes food with saliva.
- The rhythmic chewing of the cattle was the only sound heard across the quiet meadow as the sun began to set.

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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.