Saturday, January 17, 2026

Answers to yesterday's Bee

Jump to answers for


The official answers for today's puzzle are:

Click on the arrow to show the definition.
Click outside the pop-up to close it.



Number of Pangrams: 1

Maximum Puzzle Score: 292

Number of Answers: 59

Points Needed for Genius: 204

Genius requires between 32 and 48 words. You need at least a 6-letter word to reach genius. If you don't get the pangram, you need 74% of the total points to reach genius. If you get the pangram, you only need 68% 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 292 was in the 92nd percentile of all puzzles.
The last time there was a score this high was on January 10, 2026.
The highest score ever was 537 on January 22, 2021.
The lowest score ever was 47 on March 27, 2023.

This puzzle's 59 possible answers rank it in the 90th percentile of all puzzles.
The last time there were more answers than this was on January 8, 2026.
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 6-letter word for genius.
The last time this happened was on January 16, 2026.

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 227
  • loll 210
  • toot 207
  • naan 189
  • nana 189
  • lilt 151
  • till 151
  • tilt 151
  • nene 148
  • tint 145
  • mama 142
  • mamma 142
  • onion 137
  • acacia 136
  • acai 136
  • onto 136
  • toon 136
  • anal 129
  • anon 128
  • olio 124
  • dodo 120
  • papa 120
  • tact 120
  • baba 119
  • boob 117
  • booboo 117
  • poop 117
  • lull 116
  • lulu 116
  • cocci 114
  • call 113
  • calla 113
  • mitt 113
  • mono 112
  • moon 112
  • tutu 112
  • ratatat 111
  • tart 111
  • tartar 111
  • tattoo 111
  • attar 110
  • allay 109
  • ally 109
  • loon 109
  • tatty 108
  • ammo 107
  • momma 107
  • epee 104
  • meme 104
  • peep 104


How long are words in the Bee?

There have been 112,385 answers ever accepted in the Bee - with 10,894 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*:

  • alary
  • allopatry
  • allotropy
  • allotypy
  • allyl
  • arrayal
  • aryl
  • atalaya
  • atopy
  • ayaya
  • lollopy
  • lolly
  • lollypop
  • loppy
  • lory
  • lyart
  • lytta
  • palatally
  • pally
  • palpatory
  • paly
  • papyral
  • parroty
  • paty
  • payor
  • platy
  • playa
  • plotty
  • poly
  • polyol
  • polypary
  • poopy
  • popply
  • potatory
  • propyl
  • propyla
  • prototypal
  • protyl
  • pyrola
  • pyrrol
  • raya
  • rooty
  • ryot
  • tarty
  • tayra
  • tolyl
  • tory
  • totty
  • toyo
  • trappy
  • trollopy
  • trolly
  • trotyl
  • typal
  • typp
  • typy

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

allay

noun
  1. Alleviation; abatement; check.
  2. An alloy.
verb
  1. To make quiet or put at rest; to pacify or appease; to quell; to calm.
  2. To alleviate; to abate; to mitigate.
  3. To subside, abate, become peaceful.
  4. To mix (metals); to mix with a baser metal; to alloy; to deteriorate.
  5. (by extension) To make worse by the introduction of inferior elements.

alloy

Etymology 1

noun
  1. A metal that is a combination of two or more elements, at least one of which is a metal.
  2. A metal of lesser value, mixed with a metal of greater value.
  3. An admixture; something added which stains, taints etc.
  4. Fusion, marriage, combination.

Etymology 2

verb
  1. To mix or combine; often used of metals.
  2. To reduce the purity of by mixing with a less valuable substance.
  3. To impair or debase by mixture.

ally

Etymology 1

noun
  1. A person, group, or state (etc) which is associated with another for a common cause; one united to another by treaty or common purpose; a confederate.
  2. A person, group, concept (etc) which is associated with another as a helper; a supporter; an auxiliary.
  3. Anything akin to something else by structure, etc.
  4. A closely related species, usually within the same family.
  5. A relative; a kinsman.
verb
  1. To unite, or form a connection between, as between families by marriage, or between princes and states by treaty, league, or confederacy.
  2. To connect or form a relation between by similitude, resemblance, friendship, or love.

Etymology 2

noun
  1. A narrow street or passageway, especially one through the middle of a block giving access to the rear of lots or buildings.
  2. The area between the outfielders.
  3. An establishment where bowling is played.
  4. An elongated wooden strip of floor along which a bowling ball is rolled.
  5. The extra area between the sidelines or tramlines on a tennis court that is used for doubles matches.
  6. A walk or passage in a garden or park, bordered by rows of trees or bushes.
  7. A passageway between rows of pews in a church.
  8. (perspective drawing) Any passage having the entrance represented as wider than the exit, so as to give the appearance of length.
  9. The space between two rows of compositors' stands in a printing office.
noun
  1. A glass marble or taw.

apply

Etymology 1

verb
  1. To lay or place; to put (one thing to another)
  2. To put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a particular case
  3. To make use of, declare, or pronounce, as suitable, fitting, or relative
  4. To put closely; to join; to engage and employ diligently, or with attention
  5. To to address; to refer; generally used reflexively.
  6. To submit oneself as a candidate (with the adposition "to" designating the recipient of the submission, and the adposition "for" designating the position).
  7. To pertain or be relevant to a specified individual or group.
  8. To busy; to keep at work; to ply.
  9. To visit.

Etymology 2

adjective
  1. Resembling apples, apple-like.
  2. Of, or pertaining to, apples.

aptly

adverb
  1. In an apt or suitable manner; fitly; appropriately

array

noun
  1. Clothing and ornamentation.
  2. A collection laid out to be viewed in full.
  3. An orderly series, arrangement or sequence.
  4. Order; a regular and imposing arrangement; disposition in regular lines; hence, order of battle.
  5. A large collection.
  6. Common name for matrix.
  7. Any of various data structures designed to hold multiple elements of the same type; especially, a data structure that holds these elements in adjacent memory locations so that they may be retrieved using numeric indices.
  8. A ranking or setting forth in order, by the proper officer, of a jury as impanelled in a cause; the panel itself; or the whole body of jurors summoned to attend the court.
  9. A militia.
  10. A group of hedgehogs.
  11. A microarray.
verb
  1. To clothe and ornament; to adorn or attire.
  2. To lay out in an orderly arrangement; to deploy or marshal.
  3. To set in order, as a jury, for the trial of a cause; that is, to call them one at a time.

arroyo

noun
  1. A dry creek or streambed, a gulch which temporarily or seasonally fills and flows (after sufficient rain).
  2. Any watercourse; any rivulet (whether it flows year-round or only seasonally).

arty

adjective
  1. Pretending to artistic worth; high-flown.

loopy

adjective
  1. Having loops.
  2. Idiotic, crazy or drunk.

lorry

noun
  1. A motor vehicle for transporting goods, and in some cases people; a truck.
  2. A barrow or truck for shifting baggage, as at railway stations.
  3. A small cart or wagon used on the tramways in mines to carry coal or rubbish.
  4. A large, low, horse-drawn, four-wheeled wagon without sides; also, a similar wagon modified for use on railways.
verb
  1. To transport by, or as if by, lorry.

loyal

adjective
  1. Having or demonstrating undivided and constant support for someone or something.
  2. Firm in allegiance to a person or institution.
  3. Faithful to a person or cause.

loyally

adverb
  1. In a loyal manner, faithfully.

loyalty

noun
  1. The state of being loyal; fidelity.
  2. Faithfulness or devotion to some person, cause or nation.

oaty

No Definition Found.

orally

adverb
  1. By mouth.
  2. Spoken as opposed to written.

oratory

Etymology 1

noun
  1. A private chapel or prayer room.
  2. A large Roman Catholic church.

Etymology 2

noun
  1. The art of public speaking, especially in a formal, expressive, or forceful manner.
  2. Eloquence; the quality of artistry and persuasiveness in speech or writing.

paltry

adjective
  1. Trashy, trivial, of little value.
  2. Of little monetary worth.

papally

No Definition Found.

papaya

noun
  1. A tropical American evergreen tree, Carica papaya, having large, yellow, edible fruit
  2. The fruit of this tree.
  3. An orange colour, like that of papaya flesh.

pappy

Etymology 1

adjective
  1. Like pap; soft; mushy.

Etymology 2

noun
  1. Father
  2. Grandfather

parlay

noun
  1. (originally United States) A bet or series of bets where the stake and winnings are cumulatively carried forward; an accumulator.
verb
  1. To carry forward the stake and winnings from a bet on to a subsequent wager or series of wagers.
  2. (by extension) To increase (an asset, money, etc.) by gambling or investing in a daring manner.
  3. (by extension, generally) To convert (a situation, thing, etc.) into something better.
verb
  1. To have a discussion, especially one between enemies.

parry

noun
  1. A defensive or deflective action; an act of parrying.
  2. A simple defensive action designed to deflect an attack, performed with the forte of the blade.
  3. (combat sports and martial arts) A defensive move intended to change the direction of an incoming strike to make it miss its intended target, rather than block and absorb it; and typically performed with an open hand in a downward or sideways slapping motion.
verb
  1. To avoid, deflect, or ward off (an attack, a blow, an argument, etc.).

partly

adverb
  1. In part, or to some degree, but not completely.

party

Etymology 1

noun
  1. A person or group of people constituting a particular side in a contract or legal action.
  2. A person.
  3. A group of people forming one side in a given dispute, contest etc.
  4. A political group considered as a formal whole, united under one specific political platform of issues and campaigning to take part in government.
  5. A discrete detachment of troops, especially for a particular purpose.
  6. A group of persons collected or gathered together for some particular purpose.
  7. A part or division.
verb
  1. To celebrate at a party, to have fun, to enjoy oneself.
  2. To take recreational drugs.
  3. To engage in flings, to have one-night stands, to sow one's wild oats.
  4. To form a party (with).

Etymology 2

adjective
  1. (except in compounds) Divided; in part.
  2. Parted or divided, as in the direction or form of one of the ordinaries.

patly

No Definition Found.

patty

noun
  1. (US, Australia, New Zealand) A flattened portion of ground meat or a vegetarian equivalent, usually round but sometimes square in shape.
  2. A pastry with various fillings and spices baked inside a flaky shell, often tinted golden yellow with an egg yolk mixture or turmeric.

payola

noun
  1. A bribe given in exchange for a favor, such as one given in exchange for the promotion of goods or services (originally one given to a disk jockey to play a record).

payroll

noun
  1. A list of employees who receive salary or wages, together with the amounts due to each.
  2. The total sum of money paid to employees.
  3. The calculation of salaries and wages and the deduction of taxes etc.; the department in a company responsible for this.
  4. Bribes paid to people
verb
  1. To place on a payroll.

play

noun
  1. Activity for amusement only, especially among the young.
  2. Similar activity in young animals, as they explore their environment and learn new skills.
  3. The conduct, or course, of a game.
  4. An individual's performance in a sport or game.
  5. A short sequence of action within a game.
  6. (turn-based games) An action carried out when it is one's turn to play.
  7. A literary composition, intended to be represented by actors impersonating the characters and speaking the dialogue.
  8. A theatrical performance featuring actors.
  9. A major move by a business or investor.
  10. A geological formation that contains an accumulation or prospect of hydrocarbons or other resources.
  11. The extent to which a part of a mechanism can move freely.
  12. Sexual activity or sexual role-playing.
  13. An instance of watching or listening to digital media.
  14. A button that, when pressed, causes media to be played.
  15. (now usually in compounds) Activity relating to martial combat or fighting.
verb
  1. To act in a manner such that one has fun; to engage in activities expressly for the purpose of recreation or entertainment.
  2. To perform in (a sport); to participate in (a game).
  3. To take part in amorous activity; to make love.
  4. To act as the indicated role, especially in a performance.
  5. (heading) To produce music or theatre.
  6. (heading) To behave in a particular way.
  7. To move in any manner; especially, to move regularly with alternate or reciprocating motion; to operate.
  8. To move to and fro.
  9. To put in action or motion.
  10. To keep in play, as a hooked fish in order to land it.
  11. To manipulate, deceive, or swindle someone.

ploy

Etymology 1

noun
  1. A tactic, strategy, or gimmick.
  2. Sport; frolic.
  3. Employment.

Etymology 2

verb
  1. To form a column from a line of troops on some designated subdivision.

polyp

noun
  1. An abnormal growth protruding from a mucous membrane
  2. A cylindrical coelenterate, such as the hydra, having a mouth surrounded with tentacles

poorly

Etymology 1

adverb
  1. In a poor manner or condition; without plenty, or sufficiency, or suitable provision for comfort.
  2. With little or no success; indifferently; with little profit or advantage.
  3. Meanly; without spirit.
  4. Without skill or merit.
  5. In a negative manner; with disapproval.

Etymology 2

adjective
  1. Ill, unwell, sick

poppy

Etymology 1

noun
  1. Any plant of the genus Papaver or the family Papaveraceae, with crumpled, often red, petals and a milky juice having narcotic properties; especially the common poppy or corn poppy (Papaver rhoeas) which has orange-red flowers; the flower of such a plant.
  2. A bright red colour tinted with orange, like that of the common poppy flower.
  3. A simple artificial poppy flower worn in a buttonhole or displayed in other contexts to remember those who died in the two World Wars and other armed conflicts, especially around Remembrance Sunday.
adjective
  1. Of a bright red colour tinted with orange, like that of the common poppy flower (Papaver rhoeas).

Etymology 2

adjective
  1. Having a popping or bursting sound.
  2. Of a beverage: resembling soda pop; effervescent, fizzy.
  3. Of eyes: protruding, sticking out.

Etymology 3

adjective
  1. Popular.
  2. Typical, or in the style, of pop music.

Etymology 4

noun
  1. One's father or grandfather, or a male authority figure having similar standing.

portly

adjective
  1. Somewhat fat, pudgy, overweight.
  2. Having a dignified bearing; handsome, imposing.

portray

verb
  1. To paint or draw the likeness of.
  2. To describe in words; to convey.
  3. To play a role; to depict a character, person, situation, or event.
  4. To adorn.

portrayal

noun
  1. The act of portraying.
  2. The result of portraying; a representation, description, or portrait.

potty

Etymology 1

verb
  1. To go and use the potty: to leave in order to urinate or defecate.
verb
  1. To go crazy: to become insane.
noun
  1. (diminutive) A chamber pot, particularly (children) the pot used when toilet-training children.
  2. (diminutive) Any other device or place for urination or defecation: a toilet; a lavatory; a latrine; an outhouse.

Etymology 2

adjective
  1. Insane.
  2. Easy to pot the ball on.

pray

verb
  1. To direct words and/or thoughts to God or any higher being, for the sake of adoration, thanks, petition for help, etc.
  2. To humbly beg a person for aid or their time.
  3. To ask earnestly for; to seek to obtain by supplication; to entreat for.
  4. To implore, to entreat, to request.
adverb
  1. Please; used to make a polite request.

pyro

noun
  1. A pyromaniac
  2. Pyrocellulose
  3. Pyrotechnician
  4. Pyrotechnics
  5. Pyrogallic acid
adjective
  1. Pyromaniac, pyromaniacal
  2. Pyrotechnic

rally

Etymology 1

noun
  1. A public gathering or mass meeting that is not mainly a protest and is organized to inspire enthusiasm for a cause.
  2. A protest or demonstration for or against something, but often with speeches and often without marching, especially in North America.
  3. A sequence of strokes between serving and scoring a point.
  4. An event in which competitors drive through a series of timed special stages at intervals. The winner is the driver who completes all stages with the shortest cumulative time.
  5. A recovery after a decline in prices (said of the market, stocks, etc.)
verb
  1. To collect, and reduce to order, as troops dispersed or thrown into confusion; to gather again; to reunite.
  2. To come into orderly arrangement; to renew order, or united effort, as troops scattered or put to flight; to assemble; to unite.
  3. To collect one's vital powers or forces; to regain health or consciousness; to recuperate.
  4. To recover strength after a decline in prices; -- said of the market, stocks, etc.

Etymology 2

noun
  1. Good-humoured raillery.
verb
  1. To tease; to chaff good-humouredly.

raptly

No Definition Found.

rattly

No Definition Found.

ratty

adjective
  1. Similar to a rat; ratlike.
  2. Infested with rats.
  3. In poor condition or repair
  4. Irritable, annoyed, bad-tempered.

ropy

adjective
  1. Resembling rope in appearance or texture, used especially of muscles that are thick or hard to the touch.
  2. Capable of forming rope-like or thread-like structures.
  3. Of poor quality; in poor health.
  4. (of milk or another liquid) Slimy, as after the action of Enterobacter aerogenes in syrup.

rotary

noun
  1. A traffic circle.
  2. (chiefly with initial capital) Any of the clubs making up the international Rotary International movement for community service.
adjective
  1. Capable of rotation.

rotatory

No Definition Found.

royal

noun
  1. A royal person; a member of a royal family.
  2. A standard size of printing paper, measuring 25 by 20 inches.
  3. A standard size of writing paper, measuring 24 by 19 inches.
  4. The Australian decimal currency intended to replace the pound in 1966; was changed to "dollar" before it was actually circulated.
  5. Any of various lycaenid butterflies.
  6. The fourth tine of an antler's beam.
  7. A stag with twelve points (six on each antler).
  8. In large sailing ships, square sail over the topgallant sail.
  9. An old English gold coin, the rial.
  10. A small mortar.
  11. In auction bridge, a royal spade.
  12. A tuft of beard on the lower lip.
  13. (campanology) Bell changes rung on ten bells.
adjective
  1. Of or relating to a monarch or their family.
  2. Having the air or demeanour of a monarch; illustrious; magnanimous; of more than common size or excellence.
  3. In large sailing ships, of a mast right above the topgallant mast and its sails.
  4. Free-for-all, especially involving multiple combatants.
  5. Used as an intensifier.

royally

adverb
  1. In a royal manner; in a manner having to do with royalty.
  2. Excessively; thoroughly.

royalty

noun
  1. The rank, status, power or authority of a monarch.
  2. People of royal rank, plus their families, treated as a group.
  3. A royal right or prerogative, such as the exploitation of a natural resource; the granting of such a right; payment received for such a right.
  4. The payment received by an owner of real property for exploitation of mineral rights in the property.
  5. (by extension) Payment made to a writer, composer, inventor etc for the sale or use of intellectual property, invention etc.
  6. Someone in a privileged position.
  7. A king and a queen as a starting hand in Texas hold 'em.
  8. The bounds of a royal burgh.

tally

Etymology 1

interjection
  1. Target sighted.

Etymology 2

noun
  1. (by extension) One of two books, sheets of paper, etc., on which corresponding accounts were kept.
  2. (by extension) Any account or score kept by notches or marks, whether on wood or paper, or in a book, especially one kept in duplicate.
  3. One thing made to suit another; a match; a mate.
  4. A notch, mark, or score made on or in a tally; as, to make or earn a score or tally in a game.
  5. A tally shop.
  6. A ribbon on a sailor's cap bearing the name of the ship or the (part of) the navy to which they belong.
  7. A state of cohabitation, living with another individual in an intimate relationship outside of marriage.
noun
  1. A bone, or piece of wood, on which notches or scores are cut, as the marks of number, for account keeping.

Etymology 3

verb
  1. To count something.
  2. To record something by making marks.
  3. To make things correspond or agree with each other.
  4. To keep score.
  5. To correspond or agree.
  6. To check off, as parcels of freight going inboard or outboard.

Etymology 4

adverb
  1. In a tall way; stoutly; with spirit.

tarry

Etymology 1

noun
  1. A sojourn.
verb
  1. To delay; to be late or tardy in beginning or doing anything.
  2. To linger in expectation of something or until something is done or happens.
  3. To abide, stay or wait somewhere, especially if longer than planned.
  4. To stay somewhere temporarily.
  5. To wait for; to stay or stop for; to allow to linger.

Etymology 2

adjective
  1. Resembling tar.
  2. Covered with tar.

tartly

No Definition Found.

tatty

Etymology 1

noun
  1. Potato

Etymology 2

adjective
  1. Tattered; dilapidated, distressed, worn-out, torn

Etymology 3

noun
  1. A woven mat or screen hung at a door or window and kept wet to moisten and cool the air as it enters.

totally

adverb
  1. To the fullest extent or degree.
  2. (degree) Very; extremely.
  3. (modal) Definitely; for sure.

tray

Etymology 1

noun
  1. A small, typically rectangular or round, flat, and rigid object upon which things are carried.
  2. A flat carrier for items being transported.
  3. The items on a full tray.
  4. A component of a device into which an item is placed for use in the device's operations.
  5. A notification area used for icons and alerts.
  6. A type of retail or wholesale packaging for CPUs where the processors are sold in bulk and/or with minimal packaging.
  7. (pickup) truck bed
verb
  1. To place (items) on a tray
  2. To slide down a snow-covered hill on a tray from a cafeteria.

Etymology 2

noun
  1. Trouble; annoyance; anger

Etymology 3

verb
  1. To grieve; to annoy

Etymology 4

verb
  1. To betray

Etymology 5

noun
  1. A playing card or die with the rank of three.
  2. A score of three in cards, dice, or dominoes.
  3. A three-pointer.
  4. The third bearer of the same personal name in a family, often denoted by suffixed Roman numeral III.
  5. The third branch of a deer's antler.

troy

adjective
  1. Of, or relating to, troy weight.

typo

Etymology 1

noun
  1. A typographical error.
verb
  1. To make a typographical error.

Etymology 2

noun
  1. A compositor; a typographer.

tyro

noun
  1. A beginner; a novice.

yappy

adjective
  1. Of a dog, yapping in an annoying manner.
  2. Very talkative; talking foolishly or at length.