NYT Spelling Bee Answers for May 28, 2021

calendar May 28, 2021 · 12 min read · spelling bee  ·
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Spelling Bee "Hive" Board for May 28, 2021
Spelling Bee "Hive" Board for May 28, 2021

Game Summary

Spelling Bee "Hive" Board for May 28, 2021
Center LetterN
Outer Lettersa, d, e, h, o, p
# of Pangrams2 (Perfect: none)
Total Words68 words
Total Points308 points
Genius Level216 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 May 28, 2021

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</th><th>10Σ
A22211--8
D21513-113
E-11----2
H222111-9
N12-3----15
O111---14
P665----17
Σ251319351268

Two-Letter List (2LL) Hints

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

A
AD×2
AE×1
AN×2
AP×3
D
DA×1
DE×9
DO×3
E
EN×2
H
HA×4
HE×3
HO×2
N
NA×5
NE×5
NO×5
O
OD×1
OP×3
P
PA×5
PE×7
PH×3
PO×2

Three-Letter List (3LL) Hints

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

A
ADD×2
AEO×1
ANO×2
APN×1
APP×2
D
DAP×1
DEA×5
DEE×2
DEP×2
DON×3
E
END×1
ENN×1
H
HAN×2
HAP×2
HEA×1
HEN×2
HON×2
N
NAA×1
NAD×1
NAN×1
NAP×2
NEA×1
NEE×2
NEN×1
NEO×1
NOD×2
NON×1
NOO×1
NOP×1
O
ODE×1
OPE×3
P
PAE×1
PAN×4
PEA×1
PEE×1
PEN×4
PEO×1
PHO×3
PON×2

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)
ad....AD6Addendum, any one of two or more numbers or other terms that are to be added together.
ad.....AD7plural of addendum
ae..AE4Alternative spelling of eon
an...AN5An electrode, of a cell or other electrically polarized device, through which a positive current of electricity flows inwards (and thus, electrons flow outwards). It can have either a negative or a positive voltage.
an..AN4Straight away; at once.
ap...AP5The cessation of breathing, most often in reference to transient instances thereof during sleep.
ap....AP6To hang or attach to, as by a string, so that the thing is suspended
ap......AP8simple past tense and past participle of append
da....DA6a small Eurasian shrub with sweet-scented flowers and, typically, evergreen leaves.
de....DE6To render less lively; to diminish; to muffle.
de......DE8simple past tense and past participle of deaden
de.....DE7Deliberately impassive or expressionless.
de........DE10simple past tense and past participle of deadpan
de..DE4A senior official in a college or university, who may be in charge of a division or faculty (for example, the dean of science) or have some other advisory or disciplinary function (for example, the dean of students).
de....DE6To make deep or deeper
de......DE8simple past tense and past participle of deepen
de....DE6To be contingent or conditioned; to have something as a necessary condition; to hinge on.
de......DE8simple past tense and past participle of depend
do..DO4Having completed or finished an activity.
do...DO5Someone who receives a gift from a donor.
do....DO6simple past tense and past participle of don
en...EN5simple past tense and past participle of end
en....EN6The number nine.
ha..HA4The part of the forelimb below the forearm or wrist in a human, and the corresponding part in many other animals.
ha....HA6Having a certain kind or number of hands.
ha....HA6To occur or take place.
ha......HA8simple past tense and past participle of happen
he....... †HE9A cushioned speaker placed on, over, or inside the ear, normally used in left/right pairs.
he...HE5A shrub, Lawsonia inermis, having fragrant reddish flowers
he.....HE7Dyed with henna.
ho..HO4A sharpening stone composed of extra-fine grit used for removing the burr or curl from the blade of a razor or some other edge tool.
ho...HO5Made sharp.
na..NA4A type of round, flat bread baked in a tandoor popular in South and Central Asian cuisine.
na..NA4Nothing.
na..NA4A banana.
na..NA4The back part of the neck.
na....NA6simple past tense and past participle of nap
ne..NE4The tongue or pole of a cart or other vehicle drawn by two animals.
ne..NE4A requirement for something; something needed.
ne....NE6Necessary; being required.
ne..NE4The Hawaiian goose, Branta sandvicensis, which was designated the state bird of Hawaii in 1957.
ne..NE4The chemical element (symbol Ne) with an atomic number of 10. The second of the noble gases, it is a colourless, odorless inert gas.
no....NO6simple past tense and past participle of nod
no..NO4A knot, knob, protuberance or swelling.
no..NO4Not any of a given number or group.
no..NO4The time of day when the sun is in its zenith; twelve o'clock in the day, midday.
no..NO4No.
od...OD5An ancient Greek or Roman building used for performances of music and poetry.
op..OP4Not closed. Able to be accessed. Able to have something pass through or along it.
op....OP6simple past tense and past participle of open
op........ †OP10Alternative form of open-handed Done with an open hand. Generous. Frank and tolerant. Loose and full.
pa...PA5A chant or song, especially a hymn of thanksgiving for deliverance or victory, to Apollo or sometimes another god or goddess; hence any song sung to solicit victory in battle.
pa...PA5The red panda (Ailurus fulgens), a small raccoon-like animal of northeast Asia with reddish fur and a long, ringed tail.
pa..PA4An individual sheet of glass in a window, door, etc.
pa...PA5Having panes.
pa....PA6simple past tense and past participle of pan
pe....PE6A female peafowl.
pe..PE4The (often spherical) end of the head of a hammer opposite the main hammering end.
pe..PE4To hang down; to cause something to hang down
pe....PE6simple past tense and past participle of pend
pe...PE5A type of short, diagonally cut pasta.
pe....PE6simple past tense and past participle of pen
pe..PE4A lowly person; a peasant or serf; a labourer who is obliged to do menial work.
ph...PH5A device for transmitting conversations and other sounds in real time across distances, now often a small portable unit also capable of running software etc.
ph....PH6simple past tense and past participle of phone
ph...PH5A phonograph.
po..PO4An inland body of standing water, either natural or man-made, that is smaller than a lake.
po..PO4A writ in law used by the superior courts to remove cases from inferior courts.

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.

  • addend  (AD6)
  • addenda  (AD7)
  • aeon  (AE4)
  • anode  (AN5)
  • anon  (AN4)
  • apnea  (AP5)
  • append  (AP6)
  • appended  (AP8)
  • daphne  (DA6)
  • deaden  (DE6)
  • deadened  (DE8)
  • deadpan  (DE7)
  • deadpanned  (DE10)
  • dean  (DE4)
  • deepen  (DE6)
  • deepened  (DE8)
  • depend  (DE6)
  • depended  (DE8)
  • done  (DO4)
  • donee  (DO5)
  • donned  (DO6)
  • ended  (EN5)
  • ennead  (EN6)
  • hand  (HA4)
  • handed  (HA6)
  • happen  (HA6)
  • happened  (HA8)
  • headphone†  (HE9)
  • henna  (HE5)
  • hennaed  (HE7)
  • hone  (HO4)
  • honed  (HO5)
  • naan  (NA4)
  • nada  (NA4)
  • nana  (NA4)
  • nape  (NA4)
  • napped  (NA6)
  • neap  (NE4)
  • need  (NE4)
  • needed  (NE6)
  • nene  (NE4)
  • neon  (NE4)
  • nodded  (NO6)
  • node  (NO4)
  • none  (NO4)
  • noon  (NO4)
  • nope  (NO4)
  • odeon  (OD5)
  • open  (OP4)
  • opened  (OP6)
  • openhanded†  (OP10)
  • paean  (PA5)
  • panda  (PA5)
  • pane  (PA4)
  • paned  (PA5)
  • panned  (PA6)
  • peahen  (PE6)
  • peen  (PE4)
  • pend  (PE4)
  • pended  (PE6)
  • penne  (PE5)
  • penned  (PE6)
  • peon  (PE4)
  • phone  (PH5)
  • phoned  (PH6)
  • phono  (PH5)
  • pond  (PO4)
  • pone  (PO4)

Answer Definitions

  • addend (noun): Addendum, any one of two or more numbers or other terms that are to be added together.
  • addenda (noun): plural of addendum
  • aeon (noun): Alternative spelling of eon
  • anode (noun): An electrode, of a cell or other electrically polarized device, through which a positive current of electricity flows inwards (and thus, electrons flow outwards). It can have either a negative or a positive voltage.
  • anon (adverb): Straight away; at once.
  • apnea (noun): The cessation of breathing, most often in reference to transient instances thereof during sleep.
  • append (verb): To hang or attach to, as by a string, so that the thing is suspended
  • appended (verb): simple past tense and past participle of append
  • daphne (noun): a small Eurasian shrub with sweet-scented flowers and, typically, evergreen leaves.
  • deaden (verb): To render less lively; to diminish; to muffle.
  • deadened (verb): simple past tense and past participle of deaden
  • deadpan (adjective): Deliberately impassive or expressionless.
  • deadpanned (verb): simple past tense and past participle of deadpan
  • dean (noun): A senior official in a college or university, who may be in charge of a division or faculty (for example, the dean of science) or have some other advisory or disciplinary function (for example, the dean of students).
  • deepen (verb): To make deep or deeper
  • deepened (verb): simple past tense and past participle of deepen
  • depend (verb): To be contingent or conditioned; to have something as a necessary condition; to hinge on.
  • depended (verb): simple past tense and past participle of depend
  • done (adjective): Having completed or finished an activity.
  • donee (noun): Someone who receives a gift from a donor.
  • donned (verb): simple past tense and past participle of don
  • ended (verb): simple past tense and past participle of end
  • ennead (noun): The number nine.
  • hand (noun): The part of the forelimb below the forearm or wrist in a human, and the corresponding part in many other animals.
  • handed (adjective): Having a certain kind or number of hands.
  • happen (verb): To occur or take place.
  • happened (verb): simple past tense and past participle of happen
  • headphone† (noun): A cushioned speaker placed on, over, or inside the ear, normally used in left/right pairs.
  • henna (noun): A shrub, Lawsonia inermis, having fragrant reddish flowers
  • hennaed (adjective): Dyed with henna.
  • hone (noun): A sharpening stone composed of extra-fine grit used for removing the burr or curl from the blade of a razor or some other edge tool.
  • honed (adjective): Made sharp.
  • naan (noun): A type of round, flat bread baked in a tandoor popular in South and Central Asian cuisine.
  • nada (pronoun): Nothing.
  • nana (noun): A banana.
  • nape (noun): The back part of the neck.
  • napped (verb): simple past tense and past participle of nap
  • neap (noun): The tongue or pole of a cart or other vehicle drawn by two animals.
  • need (noun): A requirement for something; something needed.
  • needed (adjective): Necessary; being required.
  • nene (noun): The Hawaiian goose, Branta sandvicensis, which was designated the state bird of Hawaii in 1957.
  • neon (noun): The chemical element (symbol Ne) with an atomic number of 10. The second of the noble gases, it is a colourless, odorless inert gas.
  • nodded (verb): simple past tense and past participle of nod
  • node (noun): A knot, knob, protuberance or swelling.
  • none (pronoun): Not any of a given number or group.
  • noon (noun): The time of day when the sun is in its zenith; twelve o'clock in the day, midday.
  • nope (particle): No.
  • odeon (noun): An ancient Greek or Roman building used for performances of music and poetry.
  • open (adjective): Not closed. Able to be accessed. Able to have something pass through or along it.
  • opened (verb): simple past tense and past participle of open
  • openhanded† (adjective): Alternative form of open-handed Done with an open hand. Generous. Frank and tolerant. Loose and full.
  • paean (noun): A chant or song, especially a hymn of thanksgiving for deliverance or victory, to Apollo or sometimes another god or goddess; hence any song sung to solicit victory in battle.
  • panda (noun): The red panda (Ailurus fulgens), a small raccoon-like animal of northeast Asia with reddish fur and a long, ringed tail.
  • pane (noun): An individual sheet of glass in a window, door, etc.
  • paned (adjective): Having panes.
  • panned (verb): simple past tense and past participle of pan
  • peahen (noun): A female peafowl.
  • peen (noun): The (often spherical) end of the head of a hammer opposite the main hammering end.
  • pend (verb): To hang down; to cause something to hang down
  • pended (verb): simple past tense and past participle of pend
  • penne (noun): A type of short, diagonally cut pasta.
  • penned (verb): simple past tense and past participle of pen
  • peon (noun): A lowly person; a peasant or serf; a labourer who is obliged to do menial work.
  • phone (noun): A device for transmitting conversations and other sounds in real time across distances, now often a small portable unit also capable of running software etc.
  • phoned (verb): simple past tense and past participle of phone
  • phono (noun): A phonograph.
  • pond (noun): An inland body of standing water, either natural or man-made, that is smaller than a lake.
  • pone (noun): A writ in law used by the superior courts to remove cases from inferior courts.