stew
gb/stˈu/ us/stˈu/
B1
English
ragu, párol, lassú tűzön főz, rágódik, emészti magát, fő, forrong
NOUN
B1
1
ragu
B1
Usage pattern:
a stew (of [ingredients])
We made a beef stew with carrots, potatoes, and red wine.
Marharagut készítettünk sárgarépával, burgonyával és vörösborral.
The stew smelled amazing after simmering all afternoon.
A ragunak csodálatos illata volt, miután egész délután lassan rotyogott.
She served the stew with crusty bread to soak up the sauce.
Learner examples
I ate a bowl of stew for dinner.
Vacsorára egy tál ragut ettem.
This stew has vegetables and meat.
Ebben a raguban zöldség és hús van.
Common mistake:
Don’t confuse stew (a thick dish cooked slowly) with soup (usually more liquid and often cooked faster).
Meaning
slow-cooked dish in liquid
Collocations
beef stew
|vegetable stew
|hearty stew
|thick stew
|a pot of stew
|stew meat
|lamb stew
|fish stew
|homemade stew
|stew recipe
Synonyms
casserole (Similar comfort food, but often baked rather than simmered on the stove.)
|
ragout (A similar slow-cooked dish, often used in French or restaurant contexts.)
Antonyms
salad (An uncooked dish, contrasting with a hot, slow-cooked stew.)
Themes
food
|cooking
|daily_life
Definition
a thick soup-like dish cooked slowly in a pot
A dish of meat, vegetables, or other ingredients cooked slowly in liquid in a covered pot until tender, usually served with some of the thickened cooking liquid.
VERB
B1
2
párol
B1
Usage pattern:
stew [food] (in [liquid])
Stew the lentils with tomatoes and spices for about 30 minutes.
Főzd lassú tűzön a lencsét paradicsommal és fűszerekkel körülbelül 30 percig.
I stewed the beef in stock until it was fall-apart tender.
A marhahúst alaplében pároltam, amíg annyira omlós nem lett, hogy szinte szétesett.
The fruit is lightly stewed with sugar and lemon.
Learner examples
Stew the meat in a pot.
Párold meg a húst egy lábasban.
We stewed the vegetables in water.
A zöldségeket vízben pároltuk.
Common mistake:
Stew is usually slow and covered; don’t use it for quick cooking methods like fry or grill.
Meaning
cook slowly in liquid
Collocations
stew beef
|stew chicken
|stew vegetables
|stew onions
|stew apples
|stew gently
|stew in stock
|stew in wine
|stew for hours
|stew until tender
Synonyms
braise (Very similar, but often refers to larger pieces of meat and less liquid.)
|
simmer (Describes the gentle heat; stewing typically results in a thicker dish.)
Antonyms
fry (Uses hot fat rather than slow cooking in liquid.)
|
grill (Cooks with direct heat, not in liquid.)
Themes
food
|cooking
Definition
to cook food slowly in liquid
To cook food slowly in a small amount of liquid in a covered pot.
VERB
B2
3
rágódik
B2
Usage pattern:
stew (over/about) [problem/idea]
Don’t stew over one awkward comment all day.
Ne rágódj egész nap egyetlen kínos megjegyzésen.
He spent the weekend stewing about the interview.
Az egész hétvégét azzal töltötte, hogy az interjú miatt rágódott.
She tried not to stew on the argument and moved on.
Learner examples
I don’t want to stew about it.
Nem akarok ezen rágódni.
He is stewing over a problem.
Egy problémán rágódik.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use stew for any kind of thinking; it usually implies anxious or negative thinking.
Meaning
worry and think about something
Collocations
stew over a mistake
|stew about what happened
|stew in silence
|stew for days
|stew over the details
|stew over a decision
|stew over an argument
|stew on it
Synonyms
fret (More general worrying; stew suggests lingering, repetitive thoughts.)
|
brood (Often darker or more resentful; stew can be anxious or resentful.)
|
ruminate (More formal; can be neutral, while stew is usually negative.)
Antonyms
relax (Stop worrying and become calm.)
|
shrug off (Treat something as unimportant and stop thinking about it.)
Themes
emotions
|mental_health
|daily_life
Definition
to worry about something again and again
To keep thinking about something unpleasant or worrying, often without taking action.
VERB
B2
4
Usage pattern:
stew in [heat/anger/resentment]
We were stewing in the car while we waited for the tow truck.
Az autóban főttünk, miközben az autómentőre vártunk.
He went quiet and just stewed in anger for the rest of the meeting.
Elhallgatott, és a megbeszélés hátralévő részében csak magában forrongott a dühtől.
Don’t stew in resentment—talk to her about what happened.
Learner examples
It is too hot; I am stewing.
Túl meleg van; megfövök.
He is stewing in anger.
Magában forrong a dühtől.
Meaning
sit in heat or anger
Collocations
stew in the heat
|stew in a hot car
|stew in anger
|stew in resentment
|stewing in the sun
|stew in frustration
Synonyms
swelter (Strongly focused on uncomfortable heat.)
|
seethe (Focused on controlled but intense anger.)
Antonyms
cool off (Become less hot or less angry.)
|
calm down (Become less upset or angry.)
Themes
emotions
|weather
|daily_life
Definition
to feel very hot; or to stay angry for a long time
To remain somewhere uncomfortably hot or airless, or to remain for a while in a strong negative feeling such as anger or resentment.
Grammar
Dictionary form
stew
IPA
GB/stˈu/
US/stˈu/
Syllables & stress
stew (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (stew)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: stew
- Plural: stew, stews
Verb
- Base: stew
- 3rd Person Singular: stews
- Present Participle: stewing
- Past: stewed
Expressions
in a stew
1/ˈɪn ə stˈu/
idiom
upset and worried
very worried or upset
Examples
- She was in a stew about the exam results.
- Don’t get in a stew over a small delay.
- He’s been in a stew since he heard the news.
Learner examples
- I was in a stew about my flight.
leave [someone] to stew
1/lˈiv sˈʌmwˌʌn tə stˈu/
fixed phrase
leave someone to worry
to leave someone alone to feel worried or angry
Examples
- I didn’t call back right away—I left him to stew for a bit.
- They left her to stew after the meeting ended badly.
- Don’t just leave people to stew; clear up the misunderstanding.
Learner examples
- She left him to stew.
let [something] stew
1/lˈɛt sˈʌmθɪŋ stˈu/
fixed phrase
leave it for a while
to wait and think before you act
Examples
- I didn’t reply right away—I let the message stew overnight.
- Let the idea stew for a day before you decide.
- The manager let the proposal stew while she gathered more feedback.
Learner examples
- Let it stew for a day.
stew in your own juices
1/stˈu ˈɪn jˈʊɹ ˈoʊn d͡ʒˈusɪz/
idiom
informal
suffer consequences alone
to face the results of your own actions
Examples
- After he lied to everyone, they let him stew in his own juices.
- She refused to apologize and told him to stew in his own juices.
- The team stopped covering for him and left him to stew in his own juices.
stew on it
1/stˈu ˈɔn ˈɪt/
fixed phrase
think about it longer
to keep thinking about it and worrying
Examples
- Don’t stew on it all night—talk to her tomorrow.
- He kept stewing on the comment until it ruined his mood.
- If you stew on it, it just feels worse.
stew over
1/stˈu ˈoʊvɚ/
phrasal verb
worry about repeatedly
to worry about something again and again
Examples
- Try not to stew over what you said at the party.
- He stewed over the decision for days.
- She kept stewing over every detail of the email.
Learner examples
- Don’t stew over it.