stowaway

1 of 2

noun

stow·​away ˈstō-ə-ˌwā How to pronounce stowaway (audio)
Synonyms of stowawaynext
: 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
Few people take them seriously, in other words, which means musicals have a greater chance than, say, film or opera or theater, of those stowaway messages being intercepted. — Tim Brinkhof, JSTOR Daily, 8 July 2026 Eventually, the stowaway cactus drops off and becomes a new individual. — Philip Anderson, The Conversation, 8 July 2026
Verb
The disease may have stowed away as early as Captain Cook’s colonial voyage, but it only became regarded as a public health issue eighty years later. — Literary Hub, 20 July 2026 Certain models make great spots to stow away makeup and accessories or dining linens and table-setting supplies. — Tessa Cooper, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 July 2026 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

Rhymes for stowaway

See All Rhymes for stowaway

Browse Nearby Words

stowage
stowaway
stow away
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stowaway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stowaway. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

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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

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for stowaway

Nglish: Translation of stowaway for Spanish Speakers

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