NYT Spelling Bee Answers for February 8, 2026

Spelling Bee "Hive" Board for February 8, 2026

Game Summary

Spelling Bee "Hive" Board for February 8, 2026
Center LetterI
Outer Lettersb, e, l, n, t, u
# of Pangrams2 (Perfect: none)
Total Words60 words
Total Points284 points
Genius Level199 points
Bingo?Yes

Table of Contents

As you scroll down this page, the clues get progressively more revealing. So scroll slowly!

  1. Spelling Bee Grid
  2. Two-Letter List (2LL) Hints
  3. Three-Letter List (3LL) Hints
  4. Extra Letter Hints (Incrementally Revealing) 🤯
  5. Today's Complete Solution
  6. Answer Definitions

If you're just here for a list of NYT Spelling Bee answers, Jump down to the answers ↓ (Spoiler Alert!).

Spelling Bee "Hive" Board for February 8, 2026

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.

456789Σ
B44213-14
E-2-1-14
I-322--7
L6242--14
N2-3-1-6
T521---8
U15-1--7
Σ18181274160

Two-Letter List (2LL) Hints

The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding two letters.

B
BE×4
BI×6
BL×2
BU×2
E
EB×1
EL×1
EN×2
I
IN×7
L
LE×2
LI×12
N
NI×4
NU×2
T
TI×7
TU×1
U
UN×6
UT×1

Three-Letter List (3LL) Hints

The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding three letters.

B
BEE×1
BEL×3
BIB×1
BIL×3
BIT×2
BLI×2
BUI×1
BUL×1
E
EBU×1
ELI×1
ENN×1
ENT×1
I
INB×1
INL×1
INN×1
INT×3
INU×1
L
LEN×2
LIB×2
LIE×2
LIL×1
LIN×5
LIT×2
N
NIB×1
NIN×2
NIT×1
NUB×2
T
TIL×3
TIN×2
TIT×2
TUT×1
U
UNB×1
UNI×2
UNL×1
UNT×2
UTI×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 ().

Word2L RefDefinition (click to reveal)
bu...... BU8A short report, especially one released through official channels to be broadcast or publicized.
eb....... EB9Enthusiastic; high-spirited.
be.....BE7A very direct or quick path or trip.
be...BE5To lie around; encompass.
be......BE8To knowingly say that something is smaller or less important than it actually is, especially as a way of showing contempt or deprecation.
be......BE8The imaginary line marking the upper end of the lower body of an automobile, running just below the bottoms of the windows
bi...BI5Alternative letter-case form of Bible (“a specific version, edition, translation, or copy of the Christian religious text”)
bi..BI4A bitter brownish-yellow or greenish-yellow secretion produced by the liver, stored in the gall bladder, and discharged into the duodenum where it aids the process of digestion.
bi..BI4Any of various bladed or pointed hand weapons, originally designating an Anglo-Saxon sword, and later a weapon of infantry, especially in the 14th and 15th centuries, commonly consisting of a broad, heavy, double-edged, hook-shaped blade, with a short pike at the back and another at the top, attached to the end of a long staff.
bi....BI6A short informal letter.
bi..BI4To cut into something by clamping the teeth.
bi....BI6past participle of bite
bl..BL4To cease (from); to stop; to desist, to let up.
bl...BL5A small pancake, of Russian origin, made from buckwheat flour; traditionally served with melted butter, sour cream and caviar or smoked salmon.
bu...BU5well-built, muscular or toned.
el...EL5Of high birth or social position; aristocratic or patrician.
en...EN5A gripping listlessness or melancholia caused by boredom; depression.
en.....EN7To give a title to. (Can we add an example for this sense?)
in.....IN7Existing as an essential constituent; built-in; inherent; integral.
in...IN5To let in; admit.
in...IN5A navel that is formed of a hollow in the abdomen (as opposed to one that protrudes from the abdomen).
in...IN5intelligence (secret information)
in....IN6Something that is intended.
in....IN6To know intuitively or by immediate perception.
in.....IN7useless; unprofitable
le.....LE7Lax; not strict; tolerant of dissent or deviation
le....LE6Any of several plants of the genus Lens, especially Lens culinaris, from southwest Asia, that have edible, lens-shaped seeds within flattened pods.
li...LI5A written or pictorial false statement which unjustly seeks to damage someone's reputation.
li.....LI7The party against which a libel (hostile handbill) has been filed by a libelant.
li..LI4A tendon.
li..LI4A place or stead; See in lieu or in lieu of
li..LI4To do something rhythmically, with animation and quickness, usually of music.
li..LI4A path through two or more points (compare ‘segment’); a continuous mark, including as made by a pen; any path, curved or straight.
li...LI5Thread or cloth made from flax fiber.
li....LI6A small passerine bird, the common linnet (Linaria cannabina, syn. Carduelis cannabina), in the finch family Fringillidae, native to Europe, western Asia, and north Africa.
li..LI4Clinging fuzzy fluff that clings to fabric or accumulates in one's pockets or navel etc.
li....LI6A horizontal structural beam spanning an opening, such as between the uprights of a door or a window, and which supports the wall above.
li..LI4Abridged; refers to a simpler or unpaid version of a product.
li....LI6Small in size.
ni....NI6A small, quick bite taken with the front teeth.
ni..NI4NATO & ICAO phonetic alphabet code for the numeral 9.
ni......NI8The cardinal number occurring after eighteen and before twenty, represented in Roman numerals as XIX and in Arabic numerals as 19. It is the last/largest of the "teens".
ni..NI4Informal spelling of night.
nu....NU6A stub, especially a stub of undeveloped corn or fruit or nipple.
nu....NU6Of an age suitable for marriage; marriageable (principally of a young woman).
ti..TI4A regularly-shaped slab of clay or other material, affixed to cover or decorate a surface, as in a roof-tile, glazed tile, stove tile, carpet tile etc.
ti..TI4Until; to, up to; as late as (a given time).
ti..TI4To slope or incline (something); to slant.
ti..TI4A spike or point on an implement or tool, especially a prong of a fork or a tooth of a comb.
ti..TI4A slight coloring.
ti...TI5An appellation given to a person or family to signify either veneration, official position, social rank, the possession of assets or properties, or a professional or academic qualification. See also Category:Titles
ti....TI6Any small dot, stroke, or diacritical mark, especially if part of a letter, or if a letter-like abbreviation; in particular, the dots over the Latin letters i and j.
tu...TU5All together. Indicates that the remainder of a group should join in playing after a solo or other passage with a reduced number of voices.
un.....UN7Not built
un..UN4Oneness, singularity, seen as a component of a whole number; a magnitude of one.
un...UN5To bring together as one.
un...UN5Not lit
un...UN5To loosen, as something interlaced or knotted; to disengage the parts of.
un...UN5Up to the time of (something happening).
ut...UT5Useful.

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.

  • bulletin  (BU8)
  • ebullient  (EB9)
  • beeline  (BE7)
  • belie  (BE5)
  • belittle  (BE8)
  • beltline  (BE8)
  • bible  (BI5)
  • bile  (BI4)
  • bill  (BI4)
  • billet  (BI6)
  • bite  (BI4)
  • bitten  (BI6)
  • blin  (BL4)
  • blini  (BL5)
  • built  (BU5)
  • elite  (EL5)
  • ennui  (EN5)
  • entitle  (EN7)
  • inbuilt  (IN7)
  • inlet  (IN5)
  • innie  (IN5)
  • intel  (IN5)
  • intent  (IN6)
  • intuit  (IN6)
  • inutile  (IN7)
  • lenient  (LE7)
  • lentil  (LE6)
  • libel  (LI5)
  • libelee  (LI7)
  • lien  (LI4)
  • lieu  (LI4)
  • lilt  (LI4)
  • line  (LI4)
  • linen  (LI5)
  • linnet  (LI6)
  • lint  (LI4)
  • lintel  (LI6)
  • lite  (LI4)
  • little  (LI6)
  • nibble  (NI6)
  • nine  (NI4)
  • nineteen  (NI8)
  • nite  (NI4)
  • nubbin  (NU6)
  • nubile  (NU6)
  • tile  (TI4)
  • till  (TI4)
  • tilt  (TI4)
  • tine  (TI4)
  • tint  (TI4)
  • title  (TI5)
  • tittle  (TI6)
  • tutti  (TU5)
  • unbuilt  (UN7)
  • unit  (UN4)
  • unite  (UN5)
  • unlit  (UN5)
  • untie  (UN5)
  • until  (UN5)
  • utile  (UT5)

Answer Definitions

  • bulletin (noun): A short report, especially one released through official channels to be broadcast or publicized.
  • ebullient (adjective): Enthusiastic; high-spirited.
  • beeline (noun): A very direct or quick path or trip.
  • belie (verb): To lie around; encompass.
  • belittle (verb): To knowingly say that something is smaller or less important than it actually is, especially as a way of showing contempt or deprecation.
  • beltline (noun): The imaginary line marking the upper end of the lower body of an automobile, running just below the bottoms of the windows
  • bible (noun): Alternative letter-case form of Bible (“a specific version, edition, translation, or copy of the Christian religious text”)
  • bile (noun): A bitter brownish-yellow or greenish-yellow secretion produced by the liver, stored in the gall bladder, and discharged into the duodenum where it aids the process of digestion.
  • bill (noun): Any of various bladed or pointed hand weapons, originally designating an Anglo-Saxon sword, and later a weapon of infantry, especially in the 14th and 15th centuries, commonly consisting of a broad, heavy, double-edged, hook-shaped blade, with a short pike at the back and another at the top, attached to the end of a long staff.
  • billet (noun): A short informal letter.
  • bite (verb): To cut into something by clamping the teeth.
  • bitten (verb): past participle of bite
  • blin (verb): To cease (from); to stop; to desist, to let up.
  • blini (noun): A small pancake, of Russian origin, made from buckwheat flour; traditionally served with melted butter, sour cream and caviar or smoked salmon.
  • built (adjective): well-built, muscular or toned.
  • elite (adjective): Of high birth or social position; aristocratic or patrician.
  • ennui (noun): A gripping listlessness or melancholia caused by boredom; depression.
  • entitle (verb): To give a title to. (Can we add an example for this sense?)
  • inbuilt (adjective): Existing as an essential constituent; built-in; inherent; integral.
  • inlet (verb): To let in; admit.
  • innie (noun): A navel that is formed of a hollow in the abdomen (as opposed to one that protrudes from the abdomen).
  • intel (noun): intelligence (secret information)
  • intent (noun): Something that is intended.
  • intuit (verb): To know intuitively or by immediate perception.
  • inutile (adjective): useless; unprofitable
  • lenient (adjective): Lax; not strict; tolerant of dissent or deviation
  • lentil (noun): Any of several plants of the genus Lens, especially Lens culinaris, from southwest Asia, that have edible, lens-shaped seeds within flattened pods.
  • libel (noun): A written or pictorial false statement which unjustly seeks to damage someone's reputation.
  • libelee (noun): The party against which a libel (hostile handbill) has been filed by a libelant.
  • lien (noun): A tendon.
  • lieu (noun): A place or stead; See in lieu or in lieu of
  • lilt (verb): To do something rhythmically, with animation and quickness, usually of music.
  • line (noun): A path through two or more points (compare ‘segment’); a continuous mark, including as made by a pen; any path, curved or straight.
  • linen (noun): Thread or cloth made from flax fiber.
  • linnet (noun): A small passerine bird, the common linnet (Linaria cannabina, syn. Carduelis cannabina), in the finch family Fringillidae, native to Europe, western Asia, and north Africa.
  • lint (noun): Clinging fuzzy fluff that clings to fabric or accumulates in one's pockets or navel etc.
  • lintel (noun): A horizontal structural beam spanning an opening, such as between the uprights of a door or a window, and which supports the wall above.
  • lite (adjective): Abridged; refers to a simpler or unpaid version of a product.
  • little (adjective): Small in size.
  • nibble (noun): A small, quick bite taken with the front teeth.
  • nine (numeral): NATO & ICAO phonetic alphabet code for the numeral 9.
  • nineteen (numeral): The cardinal number occurring after eighteen and before twenty, represented in Roman numerals as XIX and in Arabic numerals as 19. It is the last/largest of the "teens".
  • nite (noun): Informal spelling of night.
  • nubbin (noun): A stub, especially a stub of undeveloped corn or fruit or nipple.
  • nubile (adjective): Of an age suitable for marriage; marriageable (principally of a young woman).
  • tile (noun): A regularly-shaped slab of clay or other material, affixed to cover or decorate a surface, as in a roof-tile, glazed tile, stove tile, carpet tile etc.
  • till (preposition): Until; to, up to; as late as (a given time).
  • tilt (verb): To slope or incline (something); to slant.
  • tine (noun): A spike or point on an implement or tool, especially a prong of a fork or a tooth of a comb.
  • tint (noun): A slight coloring.
  • title (noun): An appellation given to a person or family to signify either veneration, official position, social rank, the possession of assets or properties, or a professional or academic qualification. See also Category:Titles
  • tittle (noun): Any small dot, stroke, or diacritical mark, especially if part of a letter, or if a letter-like abbreviation; in particular, the dots over the Latin letters i and j.
  • tutti (adverb): All together. Indicates that the remainder of a group should join in playing after a solo or other passage with a reduced number of voices.
  • unbuilt (adjective): Not built
  • unit (noun): Oneness, singularity, seen as a component of a whole number; a magnitude of one.
  • unite (verb): To bring together as one.
  • unlit (adjective): Not lit
  • untie (verb): To loosen, as something interlaced or knotted; to disengage the parts of.
  • until (preposition): Up to the time of (something happening).
  • utile (adjective): Useful.