Tuesday, August 12, 2025

Answers to yesterday's Bee

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The official answers for today's puzzle are:

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Number of Pangrams: 2

Maximum Puzzle Score: 171

Number of Answers: 36

Points Needed for Genius: 120

Genius requires between 17 and 32 words. You need at least a 7-letter word to reach genius. If you don't get the pangrams, you need 86% of the total points to reach genius. If you get the pangrams, you only need 64% of the remaining points to reach genius.

Other days with this pangram:

The button below will reveal a chart with the number of words by each letter. Red bars indicate that there is a pangram(s) starting with that letter.


How does this puzzle compare to other puzzles?

Today's score of 171 was in the 51st percentile of all puzzles.
The last time there was a score this high was on August 10, 2025.
The highest score ever was 537 on January 22, 2021.
The lowest score ever was 47 on March 27, 2023.

This puzzle's 36 possible answers rank it in the 42nd percentile of all puzzles.
The last time there were fewer answers than this was on August 10, 2025.
The highest number of answers was 81 on June 8, 2019.
The lowest number of answers was 16 on March 27, 2023.

It takes a 7-letter word for genius.
The last time this happened was on August 10, 2025.

Today's puzzle has an average word length of 5.4.
For all Bees, the average word length has been 5.3.



Haven't I seen these letters before?

Hover over a letter to see its first and most recent appearance in the Bee!



Haven't I seen these words before?

The most common words in the Bee are:

  • noon 207
  • loll 201
  • toot 193
  • naan 177
  • nana 177
  • lilt 144
  • till 144
  • tilt 144
  • tint 138
  • nene 137
  • mama 135
  • mamma 135
  • acacia 130
  • acai 130
  • onto 127
  • toon 127
  • onion 124
  • anon 120
  • anal 119
  • olio 116
  • dodo 114
  • tact 114
  • boob 113
  • booboo 113
  • papa 112
  • poop 112
  • baba 111
  • lull 110
  • lulu 110
  • call 108
  • calla 108
  • mitt 108
  • ratatat 106
  • tart 106
  • tartar 106
  • tutu 106
  • attar 105
  • mono 105
  • moon 105
  • tatty 105
  • ammo 104
  • cocci 104
  • momma 104
  • tattoo 104
  • allay 103
  • ally 103
  • loon 101
  • epee 100
  • peep 100
  • roar 99


How long are words in the Bee?

There have been 105,307 answers ever accepted in the Bee - with 10,716 unique words.
Below are the distributions of the lengths of these words.



Valid dictionary words not in today's official answers

You may be wondering why these words aren't here*:

  • aurar
  • autarch
  • cachou
  • cachucha
  • caoutchouc
  • cartouch
  • churr
  • cocurator
  • cruor
  • crura
  • cuatro
  • curacoa
  • curara
  • curch
  • curr
  • currach
  • cutch
  • haut
  • huaracho
  • outa
  • outact
  • outcatch
  • outcoach
  • outroar
  • outroot
  • outta
  • outtrot
  • routh
  • ruth
  • thru
  • touraco
  • trou
  • tuatara
  • turaco
  • turacou
  • turr

*Because the New York Times considers them obscure or offensive.

actuator

noun
  1. Something that actuates something else, especially a usually electric device that causes a mechanical device (i.e. a mechanism) to be switched on or off, for example an electric motor that opens and closes a valve
  2. The mechanism that moves the head assembly on a disk drive
  3. A relay that controls the flow of electricity

aura

noun
  1. Distinctive atmosphere or quality associated with something.
  2. An invisible force surrounding a living creature.
  3. Perceptual disturbance experienced by some migraine sufferers before a migraine headache.
  4. Telltale sensation experienced by some people with epilepsy before a seizure.

aurora

noun
  1. An atmospheric phenomenon created by charged particles from the sun striking the upper atmosphere, creating coloured lights in the sky. It is usually named australis or borealis based on whether it is in the Southern or Northern Hemisphere respectively.

author

noun
  1. The originator or creator of a work, especially of a literary composition.
  2. Someone who writes books for a living.
  3. One's authority for something: an informant.
verb
  1. (sometimes proscribed) To create a work as its author.

auto

Etymology 1

noun
  1. An automobile.
  2. A setting for automatic operation.
  3. An automatic gearbox / transmission.
  4. A car with an automatic gearbox / transmission.
verb
  1. To travel by automobile.
adjective
  1. Capable of operating without external control or intervention.
  2. Done out of habit or without conscious thought.
  3. Necessary, inevitable, prescribed by logic, law, etc.
  4. (of a firearm such as a machine gun) Firing continuously as long as the trigger is pressed until ammunition is exhausted.
  5. (of a handgun) An autoloader; a semi-automatic or self-loading pistol, as opposed to a revolver or other manually actuated handgun, which fires one shot per pull of the trigger; distinct from machine guns.
  6. (of a local variable) Automatically added to and removed from the stack during the course of function calls.
  7. (of a group) Having one or more finite-state automata

Etymology 2

noun
  1. An autorickshaw.

autocrat

noun
  1. An absolute ruler with infinite power.
  2. A title borne by some such monarchs, as in Byzantium and tsarist Russia.

church

noun
  1. A Christian house of worship; a building where Christian religious services take place.
  2. Christians collectively seen as a single spiritual community; Christianity.
  3. A local group of people who follow the same Christian religious beliefs, local or general.
  4. A particular denomination of Christianity.
  5. (as bare noun) Christian worship held at a church; service.
  6. Organized religion in general or a specific religion considered as a political institution.
  7. Any religious group.
  8. Assembly.
verb
  1. To conduct a religious service for (a woman after childbirth, or a newly married couple).
  2. To educate someone religiously, as in in a church.

churro

noun
  1. A fried pastry from Spain, typically eaten as a dessert and with chocolate beverage.

coauthor

noun
  1. An author who collaborates with another to write something.
verb
  1. To write something in collaboration with another author.

couch

noun
  1. Couch grass, a species of persistent grass, Elymus repens, usually considered a weed.

court

noun
  1. An enclosed space; a courtyard; an uncovered area shut in by the walls of a building, or by different buildings; also, a space opening from a street and nearly surrounded by houses; a blind alley.
  2. (social) Royal society.
  3. Attention directed to a person in power; behaviour designed to gain favor; politeness of manner; civility towards someone
  4. The administration of law.
  5. A place arranged for playing the games of tennis, basketball, squash, badminton, volleyball and some other games
verb
  1. To seek to achieve or win.
  2. To risk (a consequence, usually negative).
  3. To try to win a commitment to marry from.
  4. To engage in behavior leading to mating.
  5. To attempt to attract.
  6. To attempt to gain alliance with.
  7. To engage in activities intended to win someone's affections.
  8. To engage in courtship behavior.
  9. To invite by attractions; to allure; to attract.

couth

Etymology 1

verb
  1. (auxiliary verb, defective) To know how to; to be able to.
  2. (modal auxiliary verb, defective) May; to be permitted or enabled to.
  3. (modal auxiliary verb, defective) To have the potential to; be possible.
  4. (auxiliary verb, defective) Used with verbs of perception.
  5. To know.
adjective
  1. Familiar, known; well-known, renowned.
  2. Variant of couthie.

Etymology 2

noun
  1. Social grace, refinement, sophistication; etiquette, manners.
  2. A person with social graces; a refined or sophisticated person.
adjective
  1. Marked by or possessing a high degree of sophistication; cultured, refined.

crouch

Etymology 1

noun
  1. A bent or stooped position.
verb
  1. To bend down; to stoop low; to stand close to the ground with legs bent, like an animal when waiting for prey, or someone in fear.
  2. To bend servilely; to bow in reverence or humility.

Etymology 2

noun
  1. A cross.
verb
  1. To sign with the cross; bless.

crutch

noun
  1. A device to assist in motion as a cane, especially one that provides support under the arm to reduce weight on a leg.
  2. Something that supports, often used negatively to indicate that it is not needed and causes an unhealthful dependency; a prop
  3. A crotch; the area of body where the legs fork from the trunk.
  4. A form of pommel for a woman's saddle, consisting of a forked rest to hold the leg of the rider.
  5. A knee, or piece of knee timber.
  6. A forked stanchion or post; a crotch.
  7. A type of cross formed from two C-shapes joined back to back.
verb
  1. To support on crutches; to prop up.
  2. To move on crutches.
  3. To shear the hindquarters of a sheep; to dag.
  4. To stir with a crutch (in soap making)

curacao

noun
  1. A liqueur, made from eau-de-vie, sugar and, as flavor, dried peel of sweet and sour oranges.

curator

noun
  1. A person who manages, administers or organizes a collection, either independently or employed by a museum, library, archive or zoo.
  2. One appointed to act as guardian of the estate of a person not legally competent to manage it, or of an absentee; a trustee.
  3. A member of a curatorium, a board for electing university professors, etc.

curt

verb
  1. To cut, cut short, shorten.
adjective
  1. Brief or terse, especially to the point of being rude.
  2. Short or concise.

cutout

noun
  1. A hole or space produced when something is removed by cutting.
  2. A piece cut out of something.
  3. A trusted middleman or intermediary, especially in espionage.
  4. Clip art.
  5. Any of several devices that halts the flow of a current, especially an electric current; a trip-switch or trip.
  6. A switch that changes the current from one circuit to another, or for shortening a circuit.
  7. A railway cutting.
  8. The separation of a group of cattle from a herd; the place where they are collected.

cutthroat

noun
  1. A murderer who slits the throats of victims.
  2. An unscrupulous, ruthless or unethical person.
  3. A three-player pocket billiards game where the object is to be the last player with at least one ball still on the table.
adjective
  1. Involving the cutting of throats
  2. Of or relating to a card game where everyone plays for him or herself rather than playing with a partner.
  3. Ruthlessly competitive, dog-eat-dog

hour

noun
  1. A time period of sixty minutes; one twenty-fourth of a day.
  2. A season, moment, or time.
  3. The time.
  4. (in the plural) Used after a two-digit hour and a two-digit minute to indicate time.
  5. (in the plural) The set times of prayer, the canonical hours, the offices or services prescribed for these, or a book containing them.
  6. A distance that can be traveled in one hour.

hurrah

noun
  1. A cheer; a cry of hurrah!.
verb
  1. To give a hurrah (to somebody).
interjection
  1. Expressing approval, appreciation, or happiness.

hurt

noun
  1. An emotional or psychological humiliation or bad experience.
  2. A bodily injury causing pain; a wound or bruise.
  3. Injury; damage; detriment; harm
  4. A roundel azure (blue circular spot).
  5. A band on a trip-hammer helve, bearing the trunnions.
  6. A husk.
verb
  1. To be painful.
  2. To cause (a creature) physical pain and/or injury.
  3. To cause (somebody) emotional pain.
  4. To undermine, impede, or damage.
adjective
  1. Wounded, physically injured.
  2. Pained.

hutch

noun
  1. A cage for keeping rabbits, guinea pigs, etc.
  2. A piece of furniture in which items may be displayed.
  3. A measure of two Winchester bushels.
  4. The case of a flour bolt.
  5. A car on low wheels, in which coal is drawn in the mine and hoisted out of the pit.
  6. A jig or trough for ore dressing or washing ore.
  7. A baker's kneading-trough.
verb
  1. To hoard or lay up, in a chest.
  2. To wash (ore) in a box or jig.

occur

verb
  1. To happen or take place.
  2. To present or offer itself.
  3. To come or be presented to the mind; to suggest itself.
  4. To be present or found.

ouch

Etymology 1

interjection
  1. An expression of one's own physical pain.
  2. An expression in sympathy at another's pain.
  3. A reply to an insult seen as savage (frequently one that is tongue-in-cheek or joking).
  4. An expression of disappointment.
  5. Expressing surprise at the high price of something.

Etymology 2

noun
  1. A brooch or clasp for fastening a piece of clothing together, especially when valuable or set with jewels.

outro

noun
  1. A portion of music at the end of a song; like an intro, but at the end instead of the beginning.
  2. The closing sequence at the end of a film, television program, video game etc.

rout

Etymology 1

noun
  1. A noise, especially a loud one
  2. A disturbance; tumult.
  3. Snoring.
verb
  1. To make a noise; roar; bellow; snort.
  2. To snore, especially loudly.
  3. To belch.
  4. To howl as the wind; make a roaring noise.

Etymology 2

noun
  1. A violent movement; a great or violent stir; a heavy blow; a stunning blow; a stroke.
verb
  1. To beat; strike; assail with blows.

Etymology 3

noun
  1. A troop or group, especially of a traveling company or throng.
  2. A disorderly and tumultuous crowd; a mob; hence, the rabble; the herd of common people.
  3. The state of being disorganized and thrown into confusion, especially when retreating from a fight.
  4. The act of defeating and breaking up an army or another opponent.
  5. A disturbance of the peace by persons assembled together with the intent to do a thing which, if executed, would make them rioters, and actually making a motion toward the executing thereof.
  6. A fashionable assembly, or large evening party.
verb
  1. To defeat completely, forcing into disorderly retreat.
  2. To retreat from a confrontation in disorder.
  3. To assemble in a crowd, whether orderly or disorderly; to collect in company.

Etymology 4

verb
  1. To search or root in the ground, like a pig.
  2. To scoop out with a gouge or other tool; to furrow.
  3. To use a router in woodworking.

Etymology 5

noun
  1. The brent goose.

taut

verb
  1. To make taut; to tauten, to tighten.
adjective
  1. Under tension, like a stretched bowstring, rope, or sail; tight.
  2. (of a body, muscles, etc.) Not flabby; firm, toned; (of a person) having a lean, strong body.
  3. (of music, writing, etc.) Containing only relevant parts; brief and controlled.
  4. Experiencing anxiety or stress.
  5. (of a sailor, a ship, etc.) Neat and well-disciplined; (by extension) efficient and in order.
  6. Strong; uncompromising.

thou

No Definition Found.

touch

No Definition Found.

tour

Etymology 1

noun
  1. A journey through a particular building, estate, country, etc.
  2. A guided visit to a particular place, or virtual place.
  3. A journey through a given list of places, such as by an entertainer performing concerts.
  4. A trip taken to another country in which several matches are played.
  5. A street and road race, frequently multiday.
  6. A set of competitions which make up a championship.
  7. A tour of duty.
  8. A closed trail.
  9. A going round; a circuit.
  10. A turn; a revolution.
verb
  1. To make a journey
  2. To make a circuit of a place

Etymology 2

noun
  1. A tower.

Etymology 3

verb
  1. To toot a horn.

tout

Etymology 1

noun
  1. Someone advertising for customers in an aggressive way.
  2. A person, at a racecourse, who offers supposedly inside information on which horse is likely to win.
  3. A spy for a smuggler, thief, or similar.
  4. An informer in the Irish Republican Army.
verb
  1. To flaunt, to publicize/publicise; to boast or brag; to promote.
  2. To look upon or watch.
  3. To spy out information about (a horse, a racing stable, etc.).
  4. To give a tip on (a racehorse) to a person, with the expectation of sharing in any winnings.
  5. To spy out the movements of racehorses at their trials, or to get by stealth or other improper means the secrets of the stable, for betting purposes.
  6. To act as a tout; to give a tip on a racehorse.
  7. To look for, try to obtain; used with for.

Etymology 2

noun
  1. In the game of solo, a proposal to win all eight tricks.

trout

noun
  1. Any of several species of fish in Salmonidae, closely related to salmon, and distinguished by spawning more than once.
  2. An objectionable elderly woman.
verb
  1. To (figuratively) slap someone with a slimy, stinky, wet trout; to admonish jocularly.

truth

noun
  1. True facts, genuine depiction or statements of reality.
  2. Conformity to fact or reality; correctness, accuracy.
  3. The state or quality of being true to someone or something.
  4. Faithfulness, fidelity.
  5. A pledge of loyalty or faith.
  6. Conformity to rule; exactness; close correspondence with an example, mood, model, etc.
  7. That which is real, in a deeper sense; spiritual or ‘genuine’ reality.
  8. Something acknowledged to be true; a true statement or axiom.
  9. Topness; the property of a truth quark.
verb
  1. To assert as true; to declare; to speak truthfully.
  2. To make exact; to correct for inaccuracy.
  3. To tell the truth.

tutor

noun
  1. One who teaches another (usually called a student, learner, or tutee) in a one-on-one or small-group interaction.
  2. A university officer responsible for students in a particular hall.
  3. One who has the charge of a child or pupil and his estate; a guardian.
  4. (trading card games) A card that allows you to search your deck for one or more other cards.
verb
  1. To instruct or teach, especially an individual or small group.
  2. To treat with authority or sternness.

tutu

Etymology 1

noun
  1. A ballet skirt made of layered stiff but light netting.

Etymology 2

noun
  1. Any of the genus Coriaria of shrubs and trees found in New Zealand.