Crossword Solver
Stuck on a crossword answer? The Crossword Solver shows every word matching the letters and length you have, with the most common words listed first.
Opens Unscramble Words 4U, our free word-puzzle site, in a new tab. Free, with no sign-up.
What it does
Type in whatever part of the answer you already have, marking each empty square with ?, or, before you know any letters, pick a length from 2 to 15. The solver returns every matching word in its dictionary, with everyday words at the top, since crossword answers are usually familiar words.
You can also paste in the clue. The solver doesn’t grasp meaning, but it scans the clue’s letters for two classic tricks: words that signal an anagram, and answers hidden inside the clue, forwards or backwards. Those ideas sit in their own section, ready to test against the definition.
How to use it
- Put the pattern into Letters you know – for instance ?A??E means five letters, the second A and the last E. An underscore or period also works for a blank.
- No letters yet? Leave the pattern blank and choose the answer length from the Or just the length menu.
- If you like, paste the clue into the Clue box. For a multi-word answer, end the clue with the lengths in parentheses, like (4,5), to get a list for each word.
- Scan the main list, then look at any anagram or hidden-word ideas shown separately.
- Choose US, UK or Both spellings under Dictionary, or another language’s word list. Press Clear for the next answer.
More tips
- Solving a full puzzle? The Crossword Helper rebuilds your grid from a photo so you can fill it in on screen.
Ideas for the classroom and homeschool
- Grades 3–5After students finish a vocabulary crossword, let them check tricky answers by entering the letters they have. Talk about why several words can fit one pattern and how the clue picks the winner.
- Grades 6–8Give teams a pattern like ?R??N with no clue. They brainstorm every word they can, compare with the solver, then write their own clue for one answer.
- Grades 9–12Use it to show how crossword clues are constructed: display the hidden-word suggestions for a clue and have students explain where the answer is hiding.
- Adult learnersPair it with a weekly newspaper crossword for vocabulary building, looking up each new answer on Wiktionary afterward.
Learning a language? Take the challenge
Studying another language? Set the Dictionary to the language you’re learning and use the pattern search for crosswords in it. The word site’s games and solvers use word lists in 21 languages, and its pages are available in 15. Try an easy crossword in your target language and only turn to the solver when you are really stuck.
Questions
How do I show a gap?
Put ? in each empty spot, as in C?T. An underscore or period works too.
Can it work out the clue itself?
Not by itself. It lists words that fit the letters and length and points out possible anagrams and hidden words, but you decide which one matches the clue.
Does it work for multi-word answers?
Yes. Type the word lengths in parentheses after the clue – (3,4), for example – and each word gets its own search.
Does it use American or British spelling?
Both are on by default; set Dictionary to US or UK if your puzzle uses just one.
Opens Unscramble Words 4U, our free word-puzzle site, in a new tab. Free, with no sign-up.