NYT Spelling Bee Answers for September 2, 2020
Game Summary
| Center Letter | B |
|---|---|
| Outer Letters | a, d, e, m, n, o |
| # of Pangrams | 2 (Perfect: 1) |
| Total Words | 72 words |
| Total Points | 338 points |
| Genius Level | 237 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</th><th>5</th><th>6</th><th>7</th><th>8</th><th>9 | Σ | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 1 | 5 | 2 | 3 | - | 1 | 12 |
| B | 18 | 5 | 18 | 1 | 2 | - | 44 |
| D | - | - | 2 | 1 | - | - | 3 |
| E | 1 | 2 | - | - | 1 | - | 4 |
| M | - | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | - | 5 |
| N | 1 | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | 3 |
| O | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | Σ | 22 | 15 | 24 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 72 |
Two-Letter List (2LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding two letters.
| A | AB×6 AD×2 AM×4 |
|---|---|
| B | BA×14 BE×11 BO×19 |
| D | DA×1 DE×2 |
| E | EB×2 EM×2 |
| M | MA×3 MO×2 |
| N | NA×2 NO×1 |
| O | OB×1 |
Three-Letter List (3LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding three letters.
| A | ABA×2 ABD×1 ABE×2 ABO×1 ADO×2 AME×2 AMO×2 |
|---|---|
| B | BAA×1 BAB×3 BAD×1 BAM×1 BAN×7 BAO×1 BEA×6 BED×1 BEE×1 BEM×2 BEN×1 BOB×2 BOD×2 BOM×3 BON×6 BOO×6 |
| D | DAB×1 DEB×2 |
| E | EBB×1 EBO×1 EMB×2 |
| M | MAM×3 MOB×1 MOO×1 |
| N | NAB×2 NOO×1 |
| O | OBO×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) |
|---|---|---|
| ab..... | AB7 | to give up with the intent of never again asserting or claiming an interest in. |
| ab....... | AB9 | past tense of to give up or relinquish control of. |
| ab..... † | AB7 | Midsection of the body. |
| ab... | AB5 | At a right angle to the centerline or keel of a vessel or aircraft; being at a bearing approximately 90 Degrees or 270 Degrees relative. |
| ab.. | AB4 | Poetic for 'in the sack.' |
| ab... | AB5 | Act of waiting; delay. |
| ad... | AD5 | An unburnt brick dried in the sun. |
| ad... | AD5 | A Philippine dish in which pork or chicken is slowly cooked in a sauce including soy sauce, vinegar, and crushed garlic. |
| am... | AM5 | Alternative form of amoeba |
| am.... | AM6 | plural of ameba, a variant of amoeba. |
| am.... | AM6 | A member of the genus Amoeba of unicellular protozoa that moves by means of temporary projections called pseudopodia. |
| am..... | AM7 | plural of amoeba |
| ba... | BA5 | simple past tense and past participle of baa |
| ba.. | BA4 | A kind of sponge cake soaked in rum-flavoured syrup. |
| ba.. | BA4 | A baby or infant; a very young human or animal. |
| ba.... | BA6 | An Old World monkey of the genus Papio, having dog-like muzzles and large canine teeth, cheek pouches, a short tail, and naked callosities on the buttocks. |
| ba.. | BA4 | simple past tense of bid |
| ba.... | BA6 | A fast-growing grass of the Poaceae family, characterised by its woody, hollow, round, straight, jointed stem, all of which are in the Bambuseae tribe. |
| ba.... | BA6 | An elongated curved tropical fruit of a banana plant, which grows in bunches and has a creamy flesh and a smooth skin. In particular, the sweet, yellow fruit of the Cavendish banana cultivar, which may be eaten raw, as distinct from e.g. a plantain for cooking. |
| ba.. | BA4 | A strip of material used for strengthening or coupling. A strip of material wrapped around things to hold them together. A narrow strip of cloth or other material on clothing, to bind, strengthen, or ornament it. A strip along the spine of a book where the pages are attached. A belt or strap that is part of a machine. |
| ba..... | BA7 | A large kerchief, usually colourful and used either as headgear or as a handkerchief, neckerchief, bikini, or sweatband. |
| ba...... | BA8 | Alternative spelling of bandana |
| ba.... | BA6 | Marked with bands of colour. |
| ba.. | BA4 | A cause of misery or death. |
| ba.... | BA6 | simple past tense and past participle of ban |
| ba.... | BA6 | A tree, Adansonia digitata (and similar species), native to tropical Africa, having a broad swollen trunk and edible gourd-like hanging fruits. |
| be.. | BE4 | Prayer, later especially with a rosary. |
| be.... | BE6 | simple past tense and past participle of bead |
| be.. | BE4 | Any large piece of timber or iron long in proportion to its thickness, and prepared for use. |
| be.... | BE6 | simple past tense and past participle of beam |
| be.. | BE4 | Any plant of several genera of the taxonomic family Fabaceae that produces large edible seeds or edible seedpods. |
| be.... | BE6 | simple past tense and past participle of bean |
| be.... | BE6 | simple past tense and past participle of bed |
| be.. | BE4 | past participle of be. |
| be.... | BE6 | To moan or complain about (something). |
| be...... † | BE8 | simple past tense and past participle of bemoan |
| be.. | BE4 | To cause (something) to change its shape into a curve, by physical force, chemical action, or any other means. |
| bo.. | BO4 | Synonym of tapioca pearl. |
| bo.... | BO6 | simple past tense and past participle of bob |
| bo.. | BO4 | To indicate by signs, as future events; to be an omen of; to portend or foretell. |
| bo... | BO5 | simple past tense and past participle of bode |
| bo.. | BO4 | An explosive device used or intended as a weapon, one dropped from an aircraft. The atomic bomb. |
| bo... | BO5 | A dessert made from ice cream frozen in a (generally spherical or hemispherical) mold. |
| bo.... | BO6 | simple past tense and past participle of bomb |
| bo.... | BO6 | A sweet, especially a small chocolate-covered candy. |
| bo.. | BO4 | Evidence of a long-term debt, by which the bond issuer (the borrower) is obliged to pay interest when due, and repay the principal at maturity, as specified on the face of the bond certificate. The rights of the holder are specified in the bond indenture, which contains the legal terms and conditions under which the bond was issued. Bonds are available in two forms: registered bonds, and bearer bonds. |
| bo.... | BO6 | simple past tense and past participle of bond |
| bo.. | BO4 | A composite material consisting largely of calcium phosphate and collagen and making up the skeleton of most vertebrates. |
| bo... | BO5 | simple past tense and past participle of bone |
| bo.... | BO6 | The pygmy chimpanzee, Pan paniscus, from Africa south of the Congo river. |
| bo.. | BO4 | An idiot; a fool. |
| bo.... | BO6 | Alternative spelling of boo-boo |
| bo... | BO5 | simple past tense and past participle of boo |
| bo.. | BO4 | To make a loud, hollow, resonant sound. |
| bo.... | BO6 | simple past tense and past participle of boom |
| bo.. | BO4 | A prayer; petition. |
| da.... | DA6 | simple past tense and past participle of dab |
| de.... | DE6 | To remove the bones from. |
| de..... | DE7 | Having its bones removed. |
| eb... | EB5 | simple past tense and past participle of ebb |
| eb.. | EB4 | (now poetic) Ebony; an ebony tree. |
| em... | EM5 | To lay as in a bed; to lay in surrounding matter; to bed. |
| em...... | EM8 | simple past tense and past participle of embed |
| ma... | MA5 | Any of various venomous snakes of the genus Dendroaspis, native to Africa, that live in trees. |
| ma... | MA5 | A voodoo priestess (in Haiti) |
| ma..... | MA7 | simple past tense and past participle of mambo |
| mo.... | MO6 | simple past tense and past participle of mob |
| mo...... | MO8 | A shaft of moonlight. |
| na.... | NA6 | simple past tense and past participle of nab |
| na... | NA5 | An Indian ruler within the Mogul empire. |
| no.. | NO4 | A newb or newbie; refers to the idea that someone is new to a game, concept, or idea; implying a lack of experience. Also, in some areas the word noob can mean someone is obsessed with things. |
| ob.. | OB4 | A soprano and melody wind instrument in the modern orchestra and wind ensemble. It is a smaller instrument and generally made of grenadilla wood. It is a member of the double reed family. |
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.
- abandon (AB7)
- abandoned (AB9)
- abdomen† (AB7)
- abeam (AB5)
- abed (AB4)
- abode (AB5)
- adobe (AD5)
- adobo (AD5)
- ameba (AM5)
- amebae (AM6)
- amoeba (AM6)
- amoebae (AM7)
- baaed (BA5)
- baba (BA4)
- babe (BA4)
- baboon (BA6)
- bade (BA4)
- bamboo (BA6)
- banana (BA6)
- band (BA4)
- bandana (BA7)
- bandanna (BA8)
- banded (BA6)
- bane (BA4)
- banned (BA6)
- baobab (BA6)
- bead (BE4)
- beaded (BE6)
- beam (BE4)
- beamed (BE6)
- bean (BE4)
- beaned (BE6)
- bedded (BE6)
- been (BE4)
- bemoan (BE6)
- bemoaned† (BE8)
- bend (BE4)
- boba (BO4)
- bobbed (BO6)
- bode (BO4)
- boded (BO5)
- bomb (BO4)
- bombe (BO5)
- bombed (BO6)
- bonbon (BO6)
- bond (BO4)
- bonded (BO6)
- bone (BO4)
- boned (BO5)
- bonobo (BO6)
- boob (BO4)
- booboo (BO6)
- booed (BO5)
- boom (BO4)
- boomed (BO6)
- boon (BO4)
- dabbed (DA6)
- debone (DE6)
- deboned (DE7)
- ebbed (EB5)
- ebon (EB4)
- embed (EM5)
- embedded (EM8)
- mamba (MA5)
- mambo (MA5)
- mamboed (MA7)
- mobbed (MO6)
- moonbeam (MO8)
- nabbed (NA6)
- nabob (NA5)
- noob (NO4)
- oboe (OB4)
Answer Definitions
- abandon (verb): to give up with the intent of never again asserting or claiming an interest in.
- abandoned (verb): past tense of to give up or relinquish control of.
- abdomen† (noun): Midsection of the body.
- abeam (adverb): At a right angle to the centerline or keel of a vessel or aircraft; being at a bearing approximately 90 Degrees or 270 Degrees relative.
- abed (adverb): Poetic for 'in the sack.'
- abode (noun): Act of waiting; delay.
- adobe (noun): An unburnt brick dried in the sun.
- adobo (noun): A Philippine dish in which pork or chicken is slowly cooked in a sauce including soy sauce, vinegar, and crushed garlic.
- ameba (noun): Alternative form of amoeba
- amebae (noun): plural of ameba, a variant of amoeba.
- amoeba (noun): A member of the genus Amoeba of unicellular protozoa that moves by means of temporary projections called pseudopodia.
- amoebae (noun): plural of amoeba
- baaed (verb): simple past tense and past participle of baa
- baba (noun): A kind of sponge cake soaked in rum-flavoured syrup.
- babe (noun): A baby or infant; a very young human or animal.
- baboon (noun): An Old World monkey of the genus Papio, having dog-like muzzles and large canine teeth, cheek pouches, a short tail, and naked callosities on the buttocks.
- bade (verb): simple past tense of bid
- bamboo (noun): A fast-growing grass of the Poaceae family, characterised by its woody, hollow, round, straight, jointed stem, all of which are in the Bambuseae tribe.
- banana (noun): An elongated curved tropical fruit of a banana plant, which grows in bunches and has a creamy flesh and a smooth skin. In particular, the sweet, yellow fruit of the Cavendish banana cultivar, which may be eaten raw, as distinct from e.g. a plantain for cooking.
- band (noun): A strip of material used for strengthening or coupling. A strip of material wrapped around things to hold them together. A narrow strip of cloth or other material on clothing, to bind, strengthen, or ornament it. A strip along the spine of a book where the pages are attached. A belt or strap that is part of a machine.
- bandana (noun): A large kerchief, usually colourful and used either as headgear or as a handkerchief, neckerchief, bikini, or sweatband.
- bandanna (noun): Alternative spelling of bandana
- banded (adjective): Marked with bands of colour.
- bane (noun): A cause of misery or death.
- banned (verb): simple past tense and past participle of ban
- baobab (noun): A tree, Adansonia digitata (and similar species), native to tropical Africa, having a broad swollen trunk and edible gourd-like hanging fruits.
- bead (noun): Prayer, later especially with a rosary.
- beaded (verb): simple past tense and past participle of bead
- beam (noun): Any large piece of timber or iron long in proportion to its thickness, and prepared for use.
- beamed (verb): simple past tense and past participle of beam
- bean (noun): Any plant of several genera of the taxonomic family Fabaceae that produces large edible seeds or edible seedpods.
- beaned (verb): simple past tense and past participle of bean
- bedded (verb): simple past tense and past participle of bed
- been (verb): past participle of be.
- bemoan (verb): To moan or complain about (something).
- bemoaned† (verb): simple past tense and past participle of bemoan
- bend (verb): To cause (something) to change its shape into a curve, by physical force, chemical action, or any other means.
- boba (noun): Synonym of tapioca pearl.
- bobbed (verb): simple past tense and past participle of bob
- bode (verb): To indicate by signs, as future events; to be an omen of; to portend or foretell.
- boded (verb): simple past tense and past participle of bode
- bomb (noun): An explosive device used or intended as a weapon, one dropped from an aircraft. The atomic bomb.
- bombe (noun): A dessert made from ice cream frozen in a (generally spherical or hemispherical) mold.
- bombed (verb): simple past tense and past participle of bomb
- bonbon (noun): A sweet, especially a small chocolate-covered candy.
- bond (noun): Evidence of a long-term debt, by which the bond issuer (the borrower) is obliged to pay interest when due, and repay the principal at maturity, as specified on the face of the bond certificate. The rights of the holder are specified in the bond indenture, which contains the legal terms and conditions under which the bond was issued. Bonds are available in two forms: registered bonds, and bearer bonds.
- bonded (verb): simple past tense and past participle of bond
- bone (noun): A composite material consisting largely of calcium phosphate and collagen and making up the skeleton of most vertebrates.
- boned (verb): simple past tense and past participle of bone
- bonobo (noun): The pygmy chimpanzee, Pan paniscus, from Africa south of the Congo river.
- boob (noun): An idiot; a fool.
- booboo (noun): Alternative spelling of boo-boo
- booed (verb): simple past tense and past participle of boo
- boom (verb): To make a loud, hollow, resonant sound.
- boomed (verb): simple past tense and past participle of boom
- boon (noun): A prayer; petition.
- dabbed (verb): simple past tense and past participle of dab
- debone (verb): To remove the bones from.
- deboned (adjective): Having its bones removed.
- ebbed (verb): simple past tense and past participle of ebb
- ebon (noun): (now poetic) Ebony; an ebony tree.
- embed (verb): To lay as in a bed; to lay in surrounding matter; to bed.
- embedded (verb): simple past tense and past participle of embed
- mamba (noun): Any of various venomous snakes of the genus Dendroaspis, native to Africa, that live in trees.
- mambo (noun): A voodoo priestess (in Haiti)
- mamboed (verb): simple past tense and past participle of mambo
- mobbed (verb): simple past tense and past participle of mob
- moonbeam (noun): A shaft of moonlight.
- nabbed (verb): simple past tense and past participle of nab
- nabob (noun): An Indian ruler within the Mogul empire.
- noob (noun): A newb or newbie; refers to the idea that someone is new to a game, concept, or idea; implying a lack of experience. Also, in some areas the word noob can mean someone is obsessed with things.
- oboe (noun): A soprano and melody wind instrument in the modern orchestra and wind ensemble. It is a smaller instrument and generally made of grenadilla wood. It is a member of the double reed family.