What Does ‘Mewing’ Mean?
Mewing is the trend of resting your tongue flat against the roof of your mouth in the hope of getting a sharper jawline, and it is also used as a joke when someone goes silent.
Internet & memes noun / verb
Examples of ‘Mewing’ in a sentence
- “He stopped answering and just started mewing at me.”
- “My cousin has been mewing for a month and swears it works.”
Where does ‘Mewing’ come from?
Named after British orthodontist Dr John Mew and his son Mike Mew, who promoted his "orthotropics" ideas; the trend went viral on social media around 2018–19. Wikipedia calls it a pseudoscientific technique, and dental professionals say there is little good evidence that it changes your face.
How to use it, and when not to
As a joke, it means "I am not answering that". Do not use it to comment on someone's face.
For parents and teachers
Mostly fine – depends on tone. Clean, but the trend is based on appearance. Parents may want to remind teens that it is not proven.
Related slang
Frequently asked questions
What does Mewing mean?
Mewing is the trend of resting your tongue flat against the roof of your mouth in the hope of getting a sharper jawline, and it is also used as a joke when someone goes silent.
Where does Mewing come from?
Named after British orthodontist Dr John Mew and his son Mike Mew, who promoted his "orthotropics" ideas; the trend went viral on social media around 2018–19. Wikipedia calls it a pseudoscientific technique, and dental professionals say there is little good evidence that it changes your face.
Is Mewing OK to say around parents or teachers?
Mostly fine – depends on tone. Clean, but the trend is based on appearance. Parents may want to remind teens that it is not proven.
How do you use Mewing in a sentence?
He stopped answering and just started mewing at me. My cousin has been mewing for a month and swears it works.
More internet & memes slang
67, Aura farming, Bet, Brainrot, Cap, Chronically online. Or browse the full A–Z / try the Slang Translator.
Sources
Definition written by VibeDex. Slang changes quickly, so this is a snapshot. Last reviewed 2026-10-23.