Crossword Solver

The Crossword Solver finds every dictionary word that fits a pattern of known letters and blank squares. Type the letters you already have, mark each empty square with a ?, and the tool searches a dictionary of more than 350,000 words to list every possible answer. Use it to break open a stubborn crossword clue, finish a cryptic, unstick a word game, or fill a grid you are building yourself. Results are grouped by length, everyday words are flagged with a star, and each answer shows exactly which letters you already knew.

Solve by Clue

Have the clue but only a few letters? Type the clue, then the letters you know with ? for each empty square, or just the number of squares. The solver suggests the likely answers and keeps only the ones that fit your letters, then lists every other dictionary word with the same pattern underneath, so you can check against the crossing words.

How the Pattern Works

A pattern is just your clue length with the squares you know filled in. Every unknown square becomes a placeholder. The solver keeps the known letters fixed in place and tries every combination for the blanks.

For a fixed pattern such as c???word, the length is locked to eight letters and only the four middle squares vary. When you use *, the length can vary, so the solver searches across every word length and groups the results for you.

How to Use the Crossword Solver

1. Type your pattern: Enter the letters you know and a ? for each blank square, for example c???word. Watch the live preview build a mini crossword row as you type.
2. Choose a word set: Leave it on All words for the widest dictionary, or pick Common words only to hide rare and archaic fill.
3. Click Solve: The tool instantly finds every matching word.
4. Browse the answers: Results are grouped by length. A star marks common everyday words, shaded squares show the letters you already had, and you can copy the whole list with one click.

Example Patterns to Try

• d?g — a three-letter word with a known first and last letter.
• c???word — an eight-letter compound with a known start and ending.
• ??zzle — a six-letter word ending in "zzle" (dazzle, fizzle, puzzle…).
• ?ei?ht — two blanks in a six-letter word (height, weight…).
• s*n — starts with "s", ends with "n", any length in between.

Tips for Solving Crosswords Faster

• Fill crossing letters first. Every letter you get from an intersecting answer becomes a fixed letter in your pattern and dramatically narrows the results.
• Start with common words. Switch to the common-words filter to see the most likely everyday answers before wading through obscure fill.
• Count the squares carefully. The number of ? characters must match the number of empty squares, or you will miss the answer.
• Use * when the length is unknown, such as when you only know a prefix and suffix.

Where the Dictionary Comes From

The solver uses a large open English word list of common nouns, verbs, adjectives, and inflected forms between two and fifteen letters long — the practical range for crossword grids. A second list of the most frequent English words is used to flag the answers people recognise, so the everyday solutions stand out from the rarer entries that large dictionaries always contain. Because it is a general word list, it favours ordinary vocabulary over proper names, places, and brands.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find the answer to a crossword clue?

Type the clue, then the letters you already have with ? for each empty square, or just the answer length, and press Solve. You get likely answers that fit your letters, followed by every dictionary word with that pattern.

Is the crossword solver free?

Yes. Searching by pattern is free with no limit. Answers from a clue are included in the daily free runs; Pro and Premium raise or remove that limit.

What is a crossword solver?

A crossword solver finds all dictionary words that fit a pattern of known letters and blank squares. You type the letters you have and a placeholder for each unknown square, and the tool lists every word that could fit, which helps you finish crosswords, cryptics, and other word puzzles.

What does the question mark mean?

A question mark stands for exactly one unknown letter, the same as a blank square in a crossword grid. For example d?g matches dog, dig, dug, and dag. You can also use an underscore or a period for the same purpose.

What does the asterisk mean?

An asterisk matches any run of letters, including none. For example s*n matches sun, son, sedan, and season. When you use an asterisk, include at least two known letters so the search stays focused.

How many words does it search?

The solver searches a dictionary of more than 350,000 English words between two and fifteen letters long, which is the practical range for crossword grids. A separate list of common everyday words is used to flag the answers people recognise most.

Why are some answers marked as common?

Large dictionaries contain many rare or archaic words. Answers that appear in a list of the most frequent English words are marked with a star and shown first, so the everyday solutions are easy to spot among the more obscure crossword fill.

Does it include proper nouns and abbreviations?

The dictionary is a general English word list, so it focuses on common nouns, verbs, and adjectives rather than names, places, or brand names. Some abbreviations and unusual entries appear, which is normal for crossword dictionaries where obscure fill is common.

Additional Resources

• Crossword - Wikipedia
• Crossword Abbreviations - Wikipedia