This is the 5552nd most frequent Japanese word.
かみしめる
"かみしめる" means "to chew thoroughly" or "to savor deeply (mentally or emotionally)."
In a literal sense, 'かみしめる' describes prolonged chewing to fully enjoy the taste during eating.
食事中に味わいながらゆっくりとかみしめた。
I chewed slowly while savoring the flavors during the meal.
In this sentence, 'かみしめる' is used metaphorically to describe deep contemplation and appreciation of one's achievement.
彼は自分の成功をかみしめていた。
He was savoring his success.
Here, 'かみしめる' implies deeply reflecting and appreciating a significant experience at a personal level.