stowaway

1 of 2

noun

stow·​away ˈstō-ə-ˌwā How to pronounce stowaway (audio)
Synonyms of stowawaynext
: one that stows away

stow away

2 of 2

verb

stowed away; stowing away; stows away

intransitive verb

: to secrete oneself aboard a vehicle as a means of obtaining transportation

Examples of stowaway in a Sentence

Noun A stowaway was discovered on the ship.
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.
Noun
And new species join the party regularly, as bad pet owners release their charges into the wild or stowaways sneak in from far-off countries. — Alex Harris august 25, Miami Herald, 25 Aug. 2026 Determined to avenge his boss and save the man’s son (Chaneil Kular) from the same fate, the former cop and Iraq War vet becomes a stowaway on a massive container ship heading out to sea. — Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 24 Aug. 2026
Verb
Then, accessorize with a simple black thong sandal and woven handbag—two end-of-summer staples not to stow away just yet. — Laura Jackson, Vogue, 17 Aug. 2026 Native to southeast Asia, the beetle has infested every continent bar Antarctica, according to a study published in the Journal of Pest Science in June, stowing away in wood products, live plants and packaging materials. — Jack Bantock, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for stowaway

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1848, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1879, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of stowaway was in 1848

Rhymes for stowaway

See All Rhymes for stowaway

Browse Nearby Words

stowage
stowaway
stow away
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stowaway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stowaway. Accessed 31 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

stowaway

1 of 2 noun
stow·​away ˈstō-ə-ˌwā How to pronounce stowaway (audio)
: one who stows away : an unregistered passenger

stow away

2 of 2 verb
ˌstō-ə-ˈwā
: to hide aboard a vehicle to obtain transportation

More from Merriam-Webster on stowaway

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for stowaway

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