Crossword
Crossword is a free online crossword puzzle: read the clues, type each answer into the grid across and down, and fill every square to finish the puzzle.
Falls under: Puzzles — this game trains spatial reasoning and puzzle-solving.
How to play Crossword
- Choose a grid size; a smaller grid makes a quicker puzzle.
- Pick a square or a clue to select a word, then read its clue.
- Type the answer letter by letter into the selected squares.
- Start with short words and fill-in-the-blank clues, which are usually the easiest.
- Use the letters you have already placed to help with the words that cross them.
- Fill every white square with the right letters to complete the puzzle.
About Crossword
Crossword is a free online crossword puzzle that you can play right in your browser. The grid is made of white squares for letters and dark squares that separate the words, and every answer runs either across, from left to right, or down, from top to bottom. Each answer has a clue, and the number in its first square tells you which clue it belongs to. Because across and down words share letters, every answer you solve gives you a head start on the words that cross it, so a hard clue often becomes easy once a few letters are in place.
The crossword has been a daily habit for more than a century. The first one, called a Word-Cross, was made by Arthur Wynne and printed in the New York World on December 21, 1913. Within about ten years crosswords had spread to newspapers around the world, and today millions of people solve one with their morning coffee. Puzzle makers follow a few traditions: answers are usually at least three letters long, and in American-style grids every white square belongs to both an across word and a down word.
If you are new to crosswords, start with the clues you are sure of and work outward through the letters you have placed. Short answers and fill-in-the-blank clues are usually the easiest way in. Watch the wording of each clue: a clue in the past tense needs an answer in the past tense, and a plural clue needs a plural answer. A question mark at the end often signals a pun or word play. Crossword lets you pick between grid sizes, so you can start with a small grid for a quick break and move to a bigger one when you want a longer challenge. It is good practice for vocabulary, spelling and general knowledge, for kids and adults alike.
Crossword FAQ
How do you solve a crossword?
Start with the clues you are sure of. Each answer you fill in gives you letters for the words that cross it, which makes the harder clues easier.
What do across and down mean?
Across answers run from left to right and down answers run from top to bottom. The number in the first square links the answer to its clue.
What are the dark squares for?
They mark where words end and separate one answer from the next. Only the white squares are filled with letters.
What does a question mark at the end of a clue mean?
It usually means the clue is a pun or word play, so the answer may not be the obvious, literal one.
Who invented the crossword?
Arthur Wynne. His Word-Cross puzzle appeared in the New York World on December 21, 1913, and is counted as the first crossword.
Can I choose how big the puzzle is?
Yes. Crossword offers different grid sizes, so you can pick a short puzzle or a longer one.
Are crosswords good for kids?
Yes. Crosswords build vocabulary and spelling, and a small grid is a good place for younger players to start.
Can I play Crossword for free without downloading?
Yes. It runs in your browser on computers, tablets and phones, with no download or sign-up.
