stow

verb

ˈstō 

stowed; stowing; stows

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

• keep
• put up
• reposit
• store

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

In New York, Keyes stowed a .22-caliber Ruger weapon without a stock, empty magazines, ammunition and a silencer in a watertight bucket, according to the FBI. —Doc Louallen, ABC News, 5 Dec. 2024

Soon thereafter the crew hauled the swordfish aboard the Wound Tight, then stowed it in an insulated fish bag, filled with ice to keep it fresh. —Bob McNally, Outdoor Life, 28 Nov. 2024

Bringing luggage on Concorde was impossible, as space was minimal, barely enough to stow a briefcase or handbag. —Marisa Garcia, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024

Based in part on Cooke’s own experiences in lesbian bars in the ’90s, Drive-Away Dolls tells the story of two young lesbians (Geraldine Viswanathan and Qualley) who embark on a road trip to Tallahassee only to discover their driveaway car has a mysterious steel briefcase stowed in the trunk. —Samantha Allen, Them, 20 Nov. 2024

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

Phrases Containing stow

• stow away

Kids Definition

stow

verb

ˈstō 

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 

city in northeastern Ohio northeast of Akron population 34,837

Biographical Definition

Stow

biographical name

ˈstō 

John 1525–1605 English historian and antiquarian