What does stow mean?
Stow means to put something away in a secure place, usually inside a vessel, vehicle, or storage compartment. It is especially common in nautical contexts, where crews stow cargo, ropes, and equipment so that they remain safely out of the way. The phrase “stow away” has a different meaning: it describes hiding aboard a ship or aircraft without permission, usually to travel without a ticket. Although the ordinary verb is straightforward, stow carries a slightly old-fashioned or maritime flavor that can suggest careful arrangement and secure storage. In British English the word is commonly pronounced /staʊ/, while North American English generally uses /stoʊ/. The word is useful because it distinguishes the deliberate act of putting something away from merely leaving it somewhere, and its nautical associations give ordinary sentences a distinctive practical tone.
To put something away in a secure place, or to arrange cargo or equipment neatly in a ship, aircraft, vehicle, or other enclosed space. In “stow away,” it means to conceal oneself aboard a vessel or aircraft without authorization.
"The crew stowed the spare ropes and supplies in the forward compartment."
The basic verb is formal or neutral and is particularly associated with nautical and travel contexts. “Stow away” is a distinct established expression.
A place where something is kept or stowed; also, the act or process of putting something away.
"The crew checked the main stow before the ship set sail."
The noun is much less common than the verb and is chiefly associated with storage and nautical language.
The plural is rarely needed because the noun is uncommon, especially outside nautical contexts.
"The warehouse provides several temporary stows for incoming freight."
From a place to put things away to a way of getting away: stow helps both things—and sometimes people—disappear from view.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does stow come from?
The word descends from Old English stōw, meaning “place” or “position.” In Middle English it developed into a verb meaning to place or put away, and the modern sense extended to arranging cargo and later to the familiar phrase “stow away.” Related forms such as stowage and stowaway preserve the same verbal root.
Related word forms
How stow is actually used
“Stow” is formal or neutral in the sense of putting something away, and it has a strong nautical association when referring to cargo or equipment. “Stow away” can refer to unauthorized travel by sea or air and is less formal than the basic verb.