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

For backpacking, prioritize ultra-lightweight and compact options, such as inflatable models, which can be easily stowed in a backpack without adding notable weight or bulk. —Maggie Slepian, Travel + Leisure, 17 June 2024

Hochul’s order to stow the long guns followed photos on news sites and social media showing well-armed soldiers checking straphangers’ property. —Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 9 Mar. 2024

The snake was stowed safely until landing, according to local media. —Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week Uk, theweek, 18 Jan. 2024

Those who are especially tight on storage space should consider vests that are cleverly designed to be folded and stowed inside their own pocket or included pouch. —Lauren Dana Ellman, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Jan. 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