NYT Spelling Bee Answers for August 16, 2024
Game Summary
| Center Letter | T |
|---|---|
| Outer Letters | a, b, l, o, r, y |
| # of Pangrams | 1 (Perfect: none) |
| Total Words | 69 words |
| Total Points | 297 points |
| Genius Level | 208 points |
| Bingo? | No |
Table of Contents
As you scroll down this page, the clues get progressively more revealing. So scroll slowly!
- Spelling Bee Grid
- Two-Letter List (2LL) Hints
- Three-Letter List (3LL) Hints
- Extra Letter Hints (Incrementally Revealing) 🤯
- Today's Complete Solution
- Answer Definitions
If you're just here for a list of NYT Spelling Bee answers, Jump down to the answers ↓ (Spoiler Alert!).
Spelling Bee Grid
The following table shows the standard Spelling Bee summary grid, which lists word lengths across the top and letters down the left-hand side. The cell where the word lengths and letters intersect displays the number of words in today's puzzle with the corresponding first letter and word length.
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Σ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 2 | 7 | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | 11 |
| B | 6 | 3 | 4 | - | - | - | - | 13 |
| L | 1 | 1 | - | 1 | - | - | 1 | 4 |
| O | 1 | - | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | 3 |
| R | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | - | - | 10 |
| T | 12 | 10 | 3 | 3 | - | - | - | 28 |
| Y | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | Σ | 23 | 24 | 11 | 9 | 1 | - | 1 | 69 |
Two-Letter List (2LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding two letters.
| A | AB×2 AL×3 AO×2 AR×1 AT×3 |
|---|---|
| B | BA×3 BL×4 BO×4 BR×2 |
| L | LA×1 LO×3 |
| O | OA×1 OR×2 |
| R | RA×3 RO×7 |
| T | TA×15 TO×8 TR×4 TY×1 |
| Y |
Three-Letter List (3LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding three letters.
| A | ABB×1 ABO×1 ALL×1 ALT×2 AOR×2 ART×1 ATO×1 ATT×2 |
|---|---|
| B | BAL×1 BAT×2 BLA×1 BLO×3 BOA×1 BOL×1 BOO×2 BRA×2 |
| L | LAB×1 LOO×1 LOT×1 LOY×1 |
| O | OAT×1 ORA×2 |
| R | RAT×3 ROB×1 ROO×1 ROT×4 ROY×1 |
| T | TAB×4 TAL×3 TAR×6 TAT×2 TOL×1 TOO×3 TOR×2 TOT×2 TRA×1 TRO×3 TYR×1 |
| Y |
Extra Letter Hints (Incrementally Revealing)
The table below lists all of the solutions to today's puzzle, but they're concealed. You can click the plus button (+) to reveal additional letters, one-by-one.
Concealed definitions are provided as additional clues. You can toggle concealment of the definitions by clicking on the concealer bar or the text that appears when the definition is visible.
Pangrams are marked with a dagger symbol (†).
| Word | 2L Ref | Definition (click to reveal) |
|---|---|---|
| la........ † | LA10 | A room, building or institution equipped for scientific research, experimentation or analysis. |
| ab... | AB5 | The superior or head of an abbey or monastery. |
| ab... | AB5 | An early termination of a mission, action, or procedure in relation to missiles or spacecraft; the craft making such a mission. |
| al... | AL5 | To distribute or apportion by (or as if by) lot. |
| al... | AL5 | A table or similar flat-topped structure used for religious rites. |
| al.. | AL4 | A musical part or section higher than tenor and lower than soprano, formerly the part that performed a countermelody above the tenor or main melody. |
| ao... | AO5 | The great artery which carries the blood from the heart to all parts of the body except the lungs; the main trunk of the arterial system. |
| ao.... | AO6 | Of or relating to the aorta. |
| ar.. | AR4 | Inclined toward paintings, music, etc. |
| at... | AT5 | a type of island consisting of a ribbon reef that nearly or entirely surrounds a lagoon and supports, in most cases, one to many islets on the reef platform. Atolls have a unique geology, so not all islands with a reef and a lagoon are atolls |
| at..... | AT7 | Used to show encouragement or approval to a boy, man, or male animal. |
| at... | AT5 | An essential oil extracted from flowers. |
| ba.... | BA6 | Originally, a small ball placed in a container to cast a vote; now, by extension, a piece of paper or card used for this purpose, or some other means used to signify a vote. |
| ba.... | BA6 | A boy employed to watch over the bats, and assist the players in retrieving them during play. |
| ba... | BA5 | Mad, crazy, silly. |
| bl.. | BL4 | To cry, as a calf or sheep; bleat. |
| bl... | BL5 | To cause to become distended. |
| bl.. | BL4 | A blemish, spot or stain made by a coloured substance. |
| bl.... | BL6 | (Very) drunk or intoxicated. |
| bo.. | BO4 | A craft used for transportation of goods, fishing, racing, recreational cruising, or military use on or in the water, propelled by oars or outboard motor or inboard motor or by wind. |
| bo.. | BO4 | A (usually) metal fastener consisting of a cylindrical body that is threaded, with a larger head on one end. It can be inserted into an unthreaded hole up to the head, with a nut then threaded on the other end; a heavy machine screw. |
| bo.. | BO4 | A heavy shoe that covers part of the leg. A kind of sports shoe worn by players of certain games such as cricket and football. |
| bo... | BO5 | A form of prize which, when a ship was captured at sea, could be distributed at once. |
| br.. | BR4 | A human child. A child who is regarded as mischievous, unruly, spoiled, or selfish. |
| br.... | BR6 | Characteristic of a brat; unruly and impolite. |
| lo.. | LO4 | A scoop used to remove scum from brine pans in saltworks. |
| lo... | LO5 | a game of chance similar to bingo |
| lo..... | LO7 | The state of being loyal; fidelity. |
| oa.. | OA4 | Containing oats. |
| or.... | OR6 | Someone who orates or delivers an oration. |
| or..... | OR7 | A private chapel or prayer room. |
| ra..... | RA7 | A swiftly repeated knocking sound. |
| ra.... | RA6 | That rattles. |
| ra... | RA5 | Resembling or characteristic of a certain rodent. |
| ro... | RO5 | A system of serfdom used in Central Europe, under which a tenant's rent was paid in forced labour. |
| ro.. | RO4 | The part of a plant, generally underground, that anchors and supports the plant body, absorbs and stores water and nutrients, and in some plants is able to perform vegetative reproduction. |
| ro.... | RO6 | Capable of rotation. |
| ro..... | RO7 | One who or that which rotates. |
| ro...... | RO8 | of, pertaining to, or causing rotation; rotational |
| ro... | RO5 | A rotating part of a mechanical device; for example, in an electric motor, generator, alternator, or pump. |
| ro..... | RO7 | The rank, status, power or authority of a monarch. |
| ta... | TA5 | A kind of waved silk, usually called watered silk, manufactured like taffeta, but thicker and stronger. The watering is given to it by calendering. |
| ta... | TA5 | A pair of tuned hand drums, used in various musical genres of the Indian subcontinent, that are similar to bongos. |
| ta... | TA5 | An inhibition or ban that results from social custom or emotional aversion. |
| ta... | TA5 | A small drum. In traditional music, a small drum played with a single stick, leaving the player's other hand free to play a melody on a three-holed pipe. |
| ta.. | TA4 | Having a vertical extent greater than the average. For example, somebody with a height of over 6 feet would generally be considered to be tall. |
| ta..... | TA7 | A tall chest of drawers, or combination of chest on chest, or chest with a small wardrobe on top. Usually with low bracket feet but always resulting in a tall piece of furniture. |
| ta... | TA5 | Target sighted. |
| ta.. | TA4 | Colocasia esculenta, raised as a food primarily for its corm, which distantly resembles potato. |
| ta... | TA5 | A card game played in various different variations. |
| ta... | TA5 | To delay; to be late or tardy in beginning or doing anything. |
| ta.. | TA4 | Sharp to the taste; acid; sour. |
| ta.... | TA6 | A red compound deposited during wine making; mostly potassium hydrogen tartrate — a source of cream of tartar. |
| ta.... | TA6 | In a tart manner; sourly or bitterly. |
| ta.... | TA6 | An image made in the skin with ink and a needle. |
| ta... | TA5 | worn and shabby; in poor condition. |
| to.. | TO4 | Loss or damage incurred through a disaster. |
| to.. | TO4 | A mechanical device intended to make a task easier. |
| to..... | TO7 | A row of buttons, usually marked with icons, used to activate the functions of an application or operating system |
| to.. | TO4 | The noise of a horn or whistle. |
| to.. | TO4 | A traditional Japanese lantern. |
| to.. | TO4 | An injury or wrong. |
| to... | TO5 | An amount obtained by the addition of smaller amounts. |
| to..... | TO7 | To the fullest extent or degree. |
| tr.. | TR4 | A small, typically rectangular or round, flat, and rigid object upon which things are carried. |
| tr... | TR5 | A supernatural being of varying size, now especially a grotesque humanoid creature living in caves or hills or under bridges. |
| tr.. | TR4 | An ugly old woman, a hag. |
| tr.. | TR4 | Of, or relating to, troy weight. |
| ty.. | TY4 | A beginner; a novice. |
Today's Complete Solution
The words that follow are a complete listing of all acceptable words in today's New York Time Spelling Bee puzzle.
Next to the answer word you'll see the two-letter reference (2L Ref) in parentheses. We added that 2L Ref for easier translation of the spoiler-avoidant language you see on the Spelling Bee Forum and Twitter. The 2L Ref signifies a word's two start letters followed by the total number of letters in the word.
- laboratory† (LA10)
- abbot (AB5)
- abort (AB5)
- allot (AL5)
- altar (AL5)
- alto (AL4)
- aorta (AO5)
- aortal (AO6)
- arty (AR4)
- atoll (AT5)
- attaboy (AT7)
- attar (AT5)
- ballot (BA6)
- batboy (BA6)
- batty (BA5)
- blat (BL4)
- bloat (BL5)
- blot (BL4)
- blotto (BL6)
- boat (BO4)
- bolt (BO4)
- boot (BO4)
- booty (BO5)
- brat (BR4)
- bratty (BR6)
- loot (LO4)
- lotto (LO5)
- loyalty (LO7)
- oaty (OA4)
- orator (OR6)
- oratory (OR7)
- ratatat (RA7)
- rattly (RA6)
- ratty (RA5)
- robot (RO5)
- root (RO4)
- rotary (RO6)
- rotator (RO7)
- rotatory (RO8)
- rotor (RO5)
- royalty (RO7)
- tabby (TA5)
- tabla (TA5)
- taboo (TA5)
- tabor (TA5)
- tall (TA4)
- tallboy (TA7)
- tally (TA5)
- taro (TA4)
- tarot (TA5)
- tarry (TA5)
- tart (TA4)
- tartar (TA6)
- tartly (TA6)
- tattoo (TA6)
- tatty (TA5)
- toll (TO4)
- tool (TO4)
- toolbar (TO7)
- toot (TO4)
- toro (TO4)
- tort (TO4)
- total (TO5)
- totally (TO7)
- tray (TR4)
- troll (TR5)
- trot (TR4)
- troy (TR4)
- tyro (TY4)
Answer Definitions
- laboratory† (noun): A room, building or institution equipped for scientific research, experimentation or analysis.
- abbot (noun): The superior or head of an abbey or monastery.
- abort (noun): An early termination of a mission, action, or procedure in relation to missiles or spacecraft; the craft making such a mission.
- allot (verb): To distribute or apportion by (or as if by) lot.
- altar (noun): A table or similar flat-topped structure used for religious rites.
- alto (noun): A musical part or section higher than tenor and lower than soprano, formerly the part that performed a countermelody above the tenor or main melody.
- aorta (noun): The great artery which carries the blood from the heart to all parts of the body except the lungs; the main trunk of the arterial system.
- aortal (adjective): Of or relating to the aorta.
- arty (adjective): Inclined toward paintings, music, etc.
- atoll (noun): a type of island consisting of a ribbon reef that nearly or entirely surrounds a lagoon and supports, in most cases, one to many islets on the reef platform. Atolls have a unique geology, so not all islands with a reef and a lagoon are atolls
- attaboy (interjection): Used to show encouragement or approval to a boy, man, or male animal.
- attar (noun): An essential oil extracted from flowers.
- ballot (noun): Originally, a small ball placed in a container to cast a vote; now, by extension, a piece of paper or card used for this purpose, or some other means used to signify a vote.
- batboy (noun): A boy employed to watch over the bats, and assist the players in retrieving them during play.
- batty (adjective): Mad, crazy, silly.
- blat (verb): To cry, as a calf or sheep; bleat.
- bloat (verb): To cause to become distended.
- blot (noun): A blemish, spot or stain made by a coloured substance.
- blotto (adjective): (Very) drunk or intoxicated.
- boat (noun): A craft used for transportation of goods, fishing, racing, recreational cruising, or military use on or in the water, propelled by oars or outboard motor or inboard motor or by wind.
- bolt (noun): A (usually) metal fastener consisting of a cylindrical body that is threaded, with a larger head on one end. It can be inserted into an unthreaded hole up to the head, with a nut then threaded on the other end; a heavy machine screw.
- boot (noun): A heavy shoe that covers part of the leg. A kind of sports shoe worn by players of certain games such as cricket and football.
- booty (noun): A form of prize which, when a ship was captured at sea, could be distributed at once.
- brat (noun): A human child. A child who is regarded as mischievous, unruly, spoiled, or selfish.
- bratty (adjective): Characteristic of a brat; unruly and impolite.
- loot (noun): A scoop used to remove scum from brine pans in saltworks.
- lotto (noun): a game of chance similar to bingo
- loyalty (noun): The state of being loyal; fidelity.
- oaty (adjective): Containing oats.
- orator (noun): Someone who orates or delivers an oration.
- oratory (noun): A private chapel or prayer room.
- ratatat (noun): A swiftly repeated knocking sound.
- rattly (adjective): That rattles.
- ratty (adjective): Resembling or characteristic of a certain rodent.
- robot (noun): A system of serfdom used in Central Europe, under which a tenant's rent was paid in forced labour.
- root (noun): The part of a plant, generally underground, that anchors and supports the plant body, absorbs and stores water and nutrients, and in some plants is able to perform vegetative reproduction.
- rotary (adjective): Capable of rotation.
- rotator (noun): One who or that which rotates.
- rotatory (adjective): of, pertaining to, or causing rotation; rotational
- rotor (noun): A rotating part of a mechanical device; for example, in an electric motor, generator, alternator, or pump.
- royalty (noun): The rank, status, power or authority of a monarch.
- tabby (noun): A kind of waved silk, usually called watered silk, manufactured like taffeta, but thicker and stronger. The watering is given to it by calendering.
- tabla (noun): A pair of tuned hand drums, used in various musical genres of the Indian subcontinent, that are similar to bongos.
- taboo (noun): An inhibition or ban that results from social custom or emotional aversion.
- tabor (noun): A small drum. In traditional music, a small drum played with a single stick, leaving the player's other hand free to play a melody on a three-holed pipe.
- tall (adjective): Having a vertical extent greater than the average. For example, somebody with a height of over 6 feet would generally be considered to be tall.
- tallboy (noun): A tall chest of drawers, or combination of chest on chest, or chest with a small wardrobe on top. Usually with low bracket feet but always resulting in a tall piece of furniture.
- tally (interjection): Target sighted.
- taro (noun): Colocasia esculenta, raised as a food primarily for its corm, which distantly resembles potato.
- tarot (noun): A card game played in various different variations.
- tarry (verb): To delay; to be late or tardy in beginning or doing anything.
- tart (adjective): Sharp to the taste; acid; sour.
- tartar (noun): A red compound deposited during wine making; mostly potassium hydrogen tartrate — a source of cream of tartar.
- tartly (adverb): In a tart manner; sourly or bitterly.
- tattoo (noun): An image made in the skin with ink and a needle.
- tatty (noun): worn and shabby; in poor condition.
- toll (noun): Loss or damage incurred through a disaster.
- tool (noun): A mechanical device intended to make a task easier.
- toolbar (noun): A row of buttons, usually marked with icons, used to activate the functions of an application or operating system
- toot (noun): The noise of a horn or whistle.
- toro (noun): A traditional Japanese lantern.
- tort (noun): An injury or wrong.
- total (noun): An amount obtained by the addition of smaller amounts.
- totally (adverb): To the fullest extent or degree.
- tray (noun): A small, typically rectangular or round, flat, and rigid object upon which things are carried.
- troll (noun): A supernatural being of varying size, now especially a grotesque humanoid creature living in caves or hills or under bridges.
- trot (noun): An ugly old woman, a hag.
- troy (adjective): Of, or relating to, troy weight.
- tyro (noun): A beginner; a novice.