About Word Search
Today's Word Search has a theme and grid that are the same for every player: twelve words hidden in a 12×12 grid. Find them all, then share your time. A new puzzle arrives at 00:00 UTC.
Word Search is the classic hidden-word puzzle: a grid of letters hides a list of words on one theme, running across, down and diagonally, forwards and backwards. Find them all as fast as you can. There is a new themed daily puzzle every day, and the Themes tab lets you pick from more than twenty themes and three grid sizes.
Also called: word find, word seek, wordsearch.
How to play Word Search
- Look at the word list under the grid. Every word on it is hidden somewhere in the letters.
- When you spot one, drag from its first letter to its last. The selection snaps to a straight line: across, down or diagonal.
- You can also tap the first letter and then tap the last one, which is handy on a small phone screen.
- A found word is ringed with a coloured capsule and crossed off the list in the same colour.
- The clock starts when you first touch the grid and stops when the last word is found. Try to beat your best time.
Rules
- Words run in straight lines in any of eight directions: left to right, right to left, top to bottom, bottom to top, and along both diagonals in either direction.
- Easy themes (marked Easy) only hide words forwards: left to right, top to bottom, and diagonally down to the right.
- Words can cross and share letters. Each word on the list is hidden exactly once, and no listed word hides inside another.
- A selection counts from either end, so dragging from the last letter back to the first finds the word too.
- Grids are 10×10 with 8 words, 12×12 with 12 words, or 14×14 with 16 words. The daily puzzle is 12×12.
- The daily theme and grid are the same for everyone and change at 00:00 UTC. Your time is saved as you go, so you can close the page and carry on later.
Word Search tips and strategy
- Hunt for rare letters. Words with J, Q, X, Z, K or W are easiest to spot, because those letters stand out in the grid.
- Scan for the first two letters. Instead of looking for a whole word, look for its opening pair (say "SH" for SHARK) and check the eight directions around each match.
- Start with the longest words. They cross the most of the grid and are hard to hide; once they are ringed, the short ones have fewer places left to be.
- Remember backwards and diagonal words. If a word just won't appear, read the grid from right to left or along the diagonals.
- Double letters are a giveaway. Pairs like EE, LL, OO or TT in the grid are good places to look for words such as SHEEP, CELLO or BALLOON.
Word Search questions
Is Word Search free to play?
Yes. Word Search is free in any browser, on phone, tablet or computer, with no download or account. Your times and progress are saved in your own browser.
Which directions can words go in?
Across, down and diagonally, both forwards and backwards: eight directions in all. Themes marked Easy only use the three forward directions, which suits younger players.
How do I select a word on my phone?
Drag your finger from the first letter to the last; the highlight snaps to a straight line as you go. If dragging is fiddly, tap the first letter (it gets a yellow dot) and then tap the last letter.
Is the daily puzzle the same for everyone?
Yes. Everyone gets the same theme and the same grid on the same day, and a new one arrives at 00:00 UTC. Share your time with the Share result button when you finish; it never gives away any words.
Can I pick a theme or a bigger grid?
Yes. The Themes tab has more than twenty themes, from animals and food to space, music and fairy tales, and three grid sizes: 10×10, 12×12 and 14×14. Your best time is kept for every theme and size.
Do I need to download Word Search?
No. It opens instantly in your browser and saves your progress on your device, so there is nothing to install and no sign-up.