stowaway

1 of 2

noun

stow·​away ˈstō-ə-ˌwā How to pronounce stowaway (audio)
: one that stows away

stow away

2 of 2

verb

stowed away; stowing away; stows away

intransitive verb

: to secrete oneself aboard a vehicle as a means of obtaining transportation

Examples of stowaway in a Sentence

Noun A stowaway was discovered on the ship.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Most stowaways result in fatalities, with the Federal Aviation Administration estimating more than 76% end in deaths. Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 29 Sep. 2025 Police in Charlotte, North Carolina, are investigating the death of a stowaway found Sunday morning inside the landing gear compartment of an American Airlines flight. Karina Tsui, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
But worst of all is the knowledge that all of these terrors were trademarks of the asylums that stowed away those with mental health conditions well into the 20th century. James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Oct. 2025 Over 77 percent of people who have tried to stow away on a plane have lost their lives, the Federal Aviation Administration previously said, per CNN. Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for stowaway

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1848, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1879, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of stowaway was in 1848

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Stowaway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stowaway. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

stowaway

1 of 2 noun
stow·​away ˈstō-ə-ˌwā How to pronounce stowaway (audio)
: one who stows away : an unregistered passenger

stow away

2 of 2 verb
ˌstō-ə-ˈwā
: to hide aboard a vehicle to obtain transportation

More from Merriam-Webster on stowaway

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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