1 A2 neutral
To bite and work something repeatedly with the teeth.
"The puppy was chewing on one of my shoes when I walked in the door."
inseparable
chew on
B1 informal inseparable transitive
To bite and work food or an object repeatedly with the teeth, or to think carefully about a problem or idea.
In plain English
To keep biting something with your teeth, or to keep thinking hard about an idea or problem.
What does "chew on" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 idiomatic informal
To think carefully about a problem, idea, or suggestion, especially over a period of time.
"Let me chew on your proposal for a few days before I give you a final answer."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To apply the chewing motion 'on' (to) something — to keep working at it with the teeth.
Actually means
To keep biting something with your teeth, or to keep thinking hard about an idea or problem.
Usage tip
The literal sense is straightforward. The figurative sense ('chew on a problem') is widely used in informal speech and writing. Often used imperatively in the figurative sense: 'Chew on that for a while.'
Words that pair with "chew on"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
idea problem bone thought pencil gum
How to conjugate "chew on"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
chew on
I/you/we/they
3rd person
chews on
he/she/it
Past simple
chewed on
yesterday
Past participle
chewed on
have + pp
-ing form
chewing on
continuous
Hear "chew on" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "chew on" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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