1 B1 neutral
To store or pack something carefully in a space, especially on a boat, aircraft, or in a vehicle.
"Please stow your carry-on luggage in the overhead compartment before takeoff."
separable
stow away
B1 neutral separable transitive/intransitive
To store something carefully in a space, or to hide on a vehicle to travel without paying.
In plain English
To put something somewhere safe and out of the way, or to secretly hide in a ship or plane to get a free ride.
What does "stow away" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic neutral
To hide on a ship, aircraft, or vehicle in order to travel secretly without paying.
"The teenager had stowed away on a cargo ship, hoping to reach a new country."
inseparable
3 C1 idiomatic informal
(Informal) To eat or drink a large amount.
"He can really stow away a meal after a long day of hiking."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To stow (pack/store) something by putting it away — transparent compound.
Actually means
To put something somewhere safe and out of the way, or to secretly hide in a ship or plane to get a free ride.
Usage tip
The storage sense is common in sailing, aviation, and travel. The 'secret passenger' sense is the source of the noun 'stowaway'. Both senses are widely understood internationally.
Words that pair with "stow away"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
luggage gear equipment cargo ship plane food
How to conjugate "stow away"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
stow away
I/you/we/they
3rd person
stows away
he/she/it
Past simple
stowed away
yesterday
Past participle
stowed away
have + pp
-ing form
stowing away
continuous
Hear "stow away" in the wild
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Other ways to say "stow away"
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