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

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

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