NYT Spelling Bee Answers for May 31, 2025
Game Summary
| Center Letter | L |
|---|---|
| Outer Letters | a, b, e, o, v, y |
| # of Pangrams | 2 (Perfect: none) |
| Total Words | 62 words |
| Total Points | 257 points |
| Genius Level | 180 points |
| Bingo? | Yes |
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 | 4 | 3 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 8 |
| B | 8 | 5 | 4 | 2 | - | - | - | 19 |
| E | 1 | - | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | 3 |
| L | 7 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 3 | - | - | 22 |
| O | 2 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2 |
| V | 3 | 1 | 2 | - | - | - | 1 | 7 |
| Y | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | Σ | 26 | 16 | 9 | 7 | 3 | - | 1 | 62 |
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×6 |
|---|---|
| B | BA×5 BE×6 BL×4 BO×4 |
| E | EE×1 EV×1 EY×1 |
| L | LA×3 LE×5 LO×14 |
| O | OL×1 OV×1 |
| V | VA×3 VE×1 VO×3 |
| Y | YE×1 |
Three-Letter List (3LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding three letters.
| A | ABL×2 ALL×5 ALO×1 |
|---|---|
| B | BAB×2 BAL×3 BEL×5 BEV×1 BLA×2 BLO×2 BOB×1 BOL×3 |
| E | EEL×1 EVO×1 EYE×1 |
| L | LAB×1 LAV×2 LEA×1 LEV×4 LOB×4 LOL×1 LOV×7 LOY×2 |
| O | OLE×1 OVA×1 |
| V | VAL×3 VEA×1 VOL×3 |
| Y | YEL×1 |
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) |
|---|---|---|
| lo...... † | LO8 | Alternative form of lovably |
| vo........ † | VO10 | A game played on a rectangular court between two teams of two to six players which involves striking a ball back and forth over a net. |
| ab.. | AB4 | Having the necessary powers or the needed resources to accomplish a task. |
| ab.. | AB4 | In an able manner; with great ability. |
| al... | AL5 | To make quiet or put at rest; to pacify or appease; to quell; to calm. |
| al.... | AL6 | One of a number of alternative forms of the same gene occupying a given position, or locus, on a chromosome. |
| al... | AL5 | A narrow street or passageway, especially one through the middle of a block giving access to the rear of lots or buildings. |
| al... | AL5 | A metal that is a combination of two or more elements, at least one of which is a metal. |
| al.. | AL4 | To unite or form a connection between (people or things), as between families by marriage, or between states by confederacy, league, or treaty. |
| al.. | AL4 | The resins of the tree Aquilaria malaccensis (syn. Aquilaria agallocha), known for their fragrant aroma, produced after infection by the fungus Phialophora parasitica. |
| ba.... | BA6 | To utter words indistinctly or unintelligibly; to utter inarticulate sounds |
| ba... | BA5 | Alternative form of Babel |
| ba.. | BA4 | Evil, especially considered as an active force for destruction or death. |
| ba.. | BA4 | A solid or hollow sphere, or roughly spherical mass. |
| ba..... | BA7 | Alternative spelling of ball boy |
| be... | BE5 | To make (a rope) fast by turning it around a fastening point such as a cleat or piton. |
| be.. | BE4 | A percussive instrument made of metal or other hard material, typically but not always in the shape of an inverted cup with a flared rim, which resonates when struck. |
| be..... | BE7 | A male worker, usually at a hotel, who carries luggage and runs errands. |
| be... | BE5 | An attractive woman. |
| be... | BE5 | The abdomen, especially a fat one. |
| be... | BE5 | An edge that is canted, one that is not a 90-degree angle; a chamfer. |
| bl.. | BL4 | To tell tales; to gossip without reserve or discretion. |
| bl.... | BL6 | Tending to blab or gossip a lot. |
| bl.. | BL4 | A shapeless or amorphous mass; a vague shape or amount, especially of a liquid or semisolid substance; a clump, group or collection that lacks definite shape. |
| bl.... | BL6 | Similar in shape to blobs; amorphous in appearance; partially irregular in appearance like bubbles. |
| bo.... | BO6 | A furry ball attached on top of a hat. |
| bo.. | BO4 | A throwing weapon made of weights on the ends of a cord. |
| bo.. | BO4 | The rounded seed-bearing capsule of a cotton or flax plant. |
| bo.. | BO4 | A long, heavy, single-edged machete. |
| ee.. | EE4 | Resembling an eel: long, thin and slippery. |
| ev.... | EV6 | To move in regular procession through a system. |
| ey..... | EY7 | The ball of the eye. |
| la... | LA5 | A small ticket or sign giving information about something to which it is attached or intended to be attached. |
| la.. | LA4 | The molten rock ejected by a volcano from its crater or fissured sides. |
| la.. | LA4 | To pour or throw out, as water; lade out; bail; bail out. |
| le... | LE5 | To have a consequence or remnant. To cause or allow (something) to remain as available; to refrain from taking (something) away; to stop short of consuming or otherwise depleting (something) entirely. |
| le... | LE5 | An elevated geographical feature. |
| le... | LE5 | The same height at all places; parallel to a flat ground. |
| le..... | LE7 | In a level or even manner. |
| le.. | LE4 | To impose (a tax or fine) to collect monies due, or to confiscate property. |
| lo... | LO5 | An entryway or reception area; vestibule; passageway; corridor. |
| lo.. | LO4 | Any projection or division, especially one of a somewhat rounded form. |
| lo...... | LO8 | Gruel. |
| lo.. | LO4 | A wolf. |
| lo.. | LO4 | To act lazily or indolently while reclining; to lean; to lie at ease. |
| lo..... | LO7 | Inspiring or deserving love or affection; adorable or cute. |
| lo..... | LO7 | In a lovable manner. |
| lo.. | LO4 | A deep caring for the existence of another. |
| lo...... | LO8 | Alternative form of lovable |
| lo.... | LO6 | Beautiful; charming; very pleasing in form, looks, tone, or manner. |
| lo... | LO5 | An informal mode of address (associated most often with actors and the like). |
| lo... | LO5 | Having or demonstrating undivided and constant support for someone or something. |
| lo..... | LO7 | In a loyal manner, faithfully. |
| ol.. | OL4 | A type of energy-absorbing landing gear strut in which sudden compression or extension of the strut causes a gas-filled chamber to push or pull a piston which forces oil through a small orifice, resulting in absorption of energy through viscous effects. |
| ov.. | OV4 | An elongated round shape resembling an egg or ellipse. |
| va.. | VA4 | A valley. |
| va.... | VA6 | An elongated depression cast between hills or mountains, often garnished with a river flowing through it. |
| va... | VA5 | A device that controls the flow of a gas or fluid through a pipe. |
| ve.. | VE4 | The flesh of a calf (i.e. a young bovine) used for food. |
| vo.. | VO4 | Any of a large number of species of small rodents of the subfamily Arvicolinae of the family Cricetidae which are not lemmings or muskrats. |
| vo.... | VO6 | The simultaneous firing of a number of missiles or bullets; the projectiles so fired. |
| ye.. | YE4 | shout; holler; make a loud sound with the voice. |
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.
- loveably† (LO8)
- volleyball† (VO10)
- able (AB4)
- ably (AB4)
- allay (AL5)
- allele (AL6)
- alley (AL5)
- alloy (AL5)
- ally (AL4)
- aloe (AL4)
- babble (BA6)
- babel (BA5)
- bale (BA4)
- ball (BA4)
- ballboy (BA7)
- belay (BE5)
- bell (BE4)
- bellboy (BE7)
- belle (BE5)
- belly (BE5)
- bevel (BE5)
- blab (BL4)
- blabby (BL6)
- blob (BL4)
- blobby (BL6)
- bobble (BO6)
- bola (BO4)
- boll (BO4)
- bolo (BO4)
- eely (EE4)
- evolve (EV6)
- eyeball (EY7)
- label (LA5)
- lava (LA4)
- lave (LA4)
- leave (LE5)
- levee (LE5)
- level (LE5)
- levelly (LE7)
- levy (LE4)
- lobby (LO5)
- lobe (LO4)
- loblolly (LO8)
- lobo (LO4)
- loll (LO4)
- lovable (LO7)
- lovably (LO7)
- love (LO4)
- loveable (LO8)
- lovely (LO6)
- lovey (LO5)
- loyal (LO5)
- loyally (LO7)
- oleo (OL4)
- oval (OV4)
- vale (VA4)
- valley (VA6)
- valve (VA5)
- veal (VE4)
- vole (VO4)
- volley (VO6)
- yell (YE4)
Answer Definitions
- loveably† (adverb): Alternative form of lovably
- volleyball† (noun): A game played on a rectangular court between two teams of two to six players which involves striking a ball back and forth over a net.
- able (adjective): Having the necessary powers or the needed resources to accomplish a task.
- ably (adverb): In an able manner; with great ability.
- allay (verb): To make quiet or put at rest; to pacify or appease; to quell; to calm.
- allele (noun): One of a number of alternative forms of the same gene occupying a given position, or locus, on a chromosome.
- alley (noun): A narrow street or passageway, especially one through the middle of a block giving access to the rear of lots or buildings.
- alloy (noun): A metal that is a combination of two or more elements, at least one of which is a metal.
- ally (verb): To unite or form a connection between (people or things), as between families by marriage, or between states by confederacy, league, or treaty.
- aloe (noun): The resins of the tree Aquilaria malaccensis (syn. Aquilaria agallocha), known for their fragrant aroma, produced after infection by the fungus Phialophora parasitica.
- babble (verb): To utter words indistinctly or unintelligibly; to utter inarticulate sounds
- babel (noun): Alternative form of Babel
- bale (noun): Evil, especially considered as an active force for destruction or death.
- ball (noun): A solid or hollow sphere, or roughly spherical mass.
- ballboy (noun): Alternative spelling of ball boy
- belay (verb): To make (a rope) fast by turning it around a fastening point such as a cleat or piton.
- bell (noun): A percussive instrument made of metal or other hard material, typically but not always in the shape of an inverted cup with a flared rim, which resonates when struck.
- bellboy (noun): A male worker, usually at a hotel, who carries luggage and runs errands.
- belle (noun): An attractive woman.
- belly (noun): The abdomen, especially a fat one.
- bevel (noun): An edge that is canted, one that is not a 90-degree angle; a chamfer.
- blab (verb): To tell tales; to gossip without reserve or discretion.
- blabby (adjective): Tending to blab or gossip a lot.
- blob (noun): A shapeless or amorphous mass; a vague shape or amount, especially of a liquid or semisolid substance; a clump, group or collection that lacks definite shape.
- blobby (adjective): Similar in shape to blobs; amorphous in appearance; partially irregular in appearance like bubbles.
- bobble (noun): A furry ball attached on top of a hat.
- bola (noun): A throwing weapon made of weights on the ends of a cord.
- boll (noun): The rounded seed-bearing capsule of a cotton or flax plant.
- bolo (noun): A long, heavy, single-edged machete.
- eely (adjective): Resembling an eel: long, thin and slippery.
- evolve (verb): To move in regular procession through a system.
- eyeball (noun): The ball of the eye.
- label (noun): A small ticket or sign giving information about something to which it is attached or intended to be attached.
- lava (noun): The molten rock ejected by a volcano from its crater or fissured sides.
- lave (verb): To pour or throw out, as water; lade out; bail; bail out.
- leave (verb): To have a consequence or remnant. To cause or allow (something) to remain as available; to refrain from taking (something) away; to stop short of consuming or otherwise depleting (something) entirely.
- levee (noun): An elevated geographical feature.
- level (adjective): The same height at all places; parallel to a flat ground.
- levelly (adverb): In a level or even manner.
- levy (verb): To impose (a tax or fine) to collect monies due, or to confiscate property.
- lobby (noun): An entryway or reception area; vestibule; passageway; corridor.
- lobe (noun): Any projection or division, especially one of a somewhat rounded form.
- loblolly (noun): Gruel.
- lobo (noun): A wolf.
- loll (verb): To act lazily or indolently while reclining; to lean; to lie at ease.
- lovable (adjective): Inspiring or deserving love or affection; adorable or cute.
- lovably (adverb): In a lovable manner.
- love (noun): A deep caring for the existence of another.
- loveable (adjective): Alternative form of lovable
- lovely (adjective): Beautiful; charming; very pleasing in form, looks, tone, or manner.
- lovey (noun): An informal mode of address (associated most often with actors and the like).
- loyal (adjective): Having or demonstrating undivided and constant support for someone or something.
- loyally (adverb): In a loyal manner, faithfully.
- oleo (noun): A type of energy-absorbing landing gear strut in which sudden compression or extension of the strut causes a gas-filled chamber to push or pull a piston which forces oil through a small orifice, resulting in absorption of energy through viscous effects.
- oval (noun): An elongated round shape resembling an egg or ellipse.
- vale (noun): A valley.
- valley (noun): An elongated depression cast between hills or mountains, often garnished with a river flowing through it.
- valve (noun): A device that controls the flow of a gas or fluid through a pipe.
- veal (noun): The flesh of a calf (i.e. a young bovine) used for food.
- vole (noun): Any of a large number of species of small rodents of the subfamily Arvicolinae of the family Cricetidae which are not lemmings or muskrats.
- volley (noun): The simultaneous firing of a number of missiles or bullets; the projectiles so fired.
- yell (verb): shout; holler; make a loud sound with the voice.