stow

verb

stowed; stowing; stows

transitive verb

1
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

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 Despite its bounteous proportions, the ProArt P16 is light enough to stow in a bookbag and go on an impromptu photoshoot. PCMAG, 13 Oct. 2024 Find somewhere to stow all your appliances when idle. Kelsey Mulvey, Southern Living, 11 Oct. 2024 So that’s what’s on my wish list for this sale: a good steamer, large enough to smooth some serious wrinkles, but small enough to stow in my luggage. Paris Wilson, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Oct. 2024 The miniature lotions, body creams, and colognes are perfect for stowing in guest rooms, and the candles bring festive, flickering light to any home. Jenny Berg, Vogue, 17 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for stow 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'stow.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near stow

Cite this Entry

“Stow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stow. Accessed 3 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

stow

verb
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

city in northeastern Ohio northeast of Akron population 34,837

Biographical Definition

Stow

biographical name

John 1525–1605 English historian and antiquarian

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