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 of stow

• store
• keep

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

When the electrons finish flowing, the arm disconnects, stows the cable and leaves the car ready to roll – saving the driver from the sweaty chore of wrestling thick, high-amperage hoses in triple-digit heat. — New Atlas, 13 Nov. 2026

Items not needed on a daily basis can be stowed under the stairs, a clever solution that again makes the most of the small space. — Sara Berardi, Architectural Digest, 13 Nov. 2026

The passport-sized phone is comfortable to stow in a pocket or use closed, but unfolds to reveal a matte, light-deflecting surface with a barely-visible crease. — Time Staff, Time, 5 Nov. 2026

If pantry snacks are spilling out onto the floor, add these bins on a shelf to keep individual snacks visible and neatly stowed. — Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 3 Nov. 2026

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

Rhymes for stow

• beau
• beaut
• beaux
• blow
• bro
• coe
• crow
• doe
• doh
• dough
• eau
• eaux

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

Biographical Definition

Stow

biographical name

ˈstō 

John 1525–1605 English historian and antiquarian