stow

verb

ˈstō How to pronounce stow (audio)
stowed; stowing; stows
Synonyms of stownext

transitive verb

1
: house, lodge
2
a
: to put away for future use : store
b
obsolete : to lock up for safekeeping : confine
3
a
: to dispose in an orderly fashion : arrange, pack
b
: load
4
slang : to put aside : stop
5
a
archaic : crowd
b
: to eat or drink up
—usually used with away
stowed away a huge dinner

Synonyms of stow

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Examples of stow in a Sentence

He stowed his gear in a locker. Luggage may be stowed under the seat.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Yee decided her favorite nook was the Picture Room, where the museum’s caretakers unveiled Soane’s choicest paintings stowed behind clandestine folding panes. — Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Aug. 2026 The airline requires passengers to store their power banks on their person, in the seat pocket or in carry-on luggage stowed under the seat. — Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 10 Aug. 2026 Passengers could stow a purse, laptop bag or small backpack that fitted within specified measurements under the seat in front of them for no charge, Jetstar said. — ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026 Being able to lose the roof and stow it in the trunk is one of my favorite parts of every modern Corvette, and that’s still true here. — Tim Stevens, ArsTechnica, 4 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for stow

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, to place, from stowe place, from Old English stōw; akin to Old Frisian stō place, Greek stylos pillar — more at steer

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of stow was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing stow

Rhymes for stow

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Browse Nearby Words

stovewood
stow
Stow
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stow. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

stow

verb
ˈstō How to pronounce stow (audio)
1
: to put away : store
stowed their belongings in the closet
2
a
: arrange sense 1, pack
quickly stowed the cargo
b
: load entry 2 sense 1a
stowed the ships to capacity
3
: to eat or drink up
stow away a meal

Geographical Definition

Stow

geographical name

ˈstō How to pronounce Stow (audio)
city in northeastern Ohio northeast of Akron

Biographical Definition

Stow

biographical name

ˈstō How to pronounce Stow (audio)
John 1525–1605 English historian and antiquarian
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