# gnawing

/ˈnɔɪŋ/ (US) · /nˈɔːɹɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/gnawing
Updated: 2026-05-28

## Definition

to bite and chew something repeatedly, often because you are hungry or bored. It can also describe a feeling of worry or pain that keeps coming back.

For teachers: to bite and chew repeatedly, typically on something hard or inedible; figuratively, to cause a persistent sense of worry or physical discomfort. Often used in the present participle form to describe a continuous, repetitive action.

## Examples

- The hungry mouse is gnawing on the wooden table leg.
- He spent the entire flight gnawing on a stale pretzel while watching the same movie for the third time.
- A gnawing sense of guilt began to take hold of him as he realized the full extent of the damage his carelessness had caused to the project.

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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.