Scrabble Words Ending in OW — Versatile W-Ending Plays
OW is one of the most versatile word endings in Scrabble. Unlike rarer endings, OW words are everyday English — SHOW, KNOW, GROW, FLOW — making them easy to spot and impossible to challenge. With the W tile adding 4 points to every play, these words consistently deliver solid scores across all skill levels.
Top OW-Ending Words by Score
| Word | Length | Points | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| SHADOW | 6 | 13 | SH + D + W = high value |
| FOLLOW | 6 | 12 | Double L + F tile |
| THROW | 5 | 11 | TH combo + W = powerful |
| ELBOW | 5 | 10 | B worth 3 + W worth 4 |
| BELOW | 5 | 10 | B + W tiles = 7 base |
| SHOW | 4 | 10 | SH digraph + W |
| FLOW | 4 | 10 | F worth 4 + W worth 4 |
| CROW | 4 | 9 | C worth 3, common word |
| VOW | 3 | 9 | V worth 4, strong 3-letter |
| HOW | 3 | 9 | H worth 4 + W worth 4 |
| KNOW | 4 | 8 | Silent K still scores |
| GROW | 4 | 8 | G worth 2, everyday word |
| BOW | 3 | 8 | B worth 3 + W |
| COW | 3 | 8 | C worth 3 + W |
💡 Insight
OW words have exceptional hook potential. Most accept -S (BOWS, COWS, FLOWS), -ED (BOWED, FLOWED, SHOWED), and -ING (BOWING, GROWING, THROWING). This means playing an OW word now can set up a 5-7 letter extension on your next turn for massive bonus scoring.
Quick-Play OW Words
Strategy Tips for OW Endings
Extension Planning
Play FLOW now, extend to FLOWING next turn for a 7-letter bingo with the 50-point bonus. OW words are natural bingo setups because -ING and -ED extensions are almost always valid.
Parallel Play Paradise
Three-letter OW words (BOW, COW, HOW, ROW, SOW, VOW) are ideal for parallel plays alongside 3-4 letter words already on the board. Each crossword formed scores independently.
Never Challenged
OW words are almost exclusively common English — SHOW, KNOW, GROW, THROW. Unlike obscure endings, you'll never face a challenge on these plays. Use them confidently in any position.
Double W Scoring
SHADOW on a double-word square earns 26 points. FOLLOW across a triple-letter under the F scores even higher. Always check if your longer OW words can reach premium squares — the W tile amplifies every multiplier.
📚 Dig Deeper
Find More OW Words Instantly
Enter your rack tiles into our free word finder and filter by ending pattern to discover every valid OW word available to you.
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