NYT Spelling Bee Answers for October 29, 2023

Spelling Bee "Hive" Board for October 29, 2023

Game Summary

Spelling Bee "Hive" Board for October 29, 2023
Center LetterB
Outer Lettersa, d, h, i, l, n
# of Pangrams1 (Perfect: none)
Total Words26 words
Total Points118 points
Genius Level83 points
Bingo?No

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 October 29, 2023

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>9Σ
A-1----1
B105212-20
D-------
H----2-2
I-------
L-11--13
N-------
Σ107314126

Two-Letter List (2LL) Hints

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

A
AL×1
B
BA×10
BI×4
BL×6
D
H
HA×2
I
L
LA×2
LI×1
N

Three-Letter List (3LL) Hints

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

A
ALI×1
B
BAB×1
BAI×1
BAL×3
BAN×5
BIL×2
BIN×2
BLA×3
BLI×3
D
H
HAN×2
I
L
LAB×2
LIB×1
N

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)
ha...... HA8A pruning hook.
al...AL5The plea or mode of defense under which a person on trial for a crime proves or attempts to prove being in another place when the alleged act was committed.
ba..BA4A kind of sponge cake soaked in rum-flavoured syrup.
ba..BA4Security, usually a sum of money, exchanged for the release of an arrested person as a guarantee of that person's appearance for trial.
ba..BA4Having no hair, fur or feathers.
ba..BA4A solid or hollow sphere, or roughly spherical mass.
ba....BA6A kind of narrative poem, adapted for recitation or singing; especially, a sentimental or romantic poem in short stanzas.
ba...BA5Common in a boring way, to the point of being predictable; containing nothing new or fresh.
ba....BA6An 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..BA4A 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.....BA7A large kerchief, usually colourful and used either as headgear or as a handkerchief, neckerchief, bikini, or sweatband.
ba......BA8Alternative spelling of bandana
bi......BI8Articulated with both lips.
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..BI4To tie; to confine by any ligature.
bi...BI5The “holy dot” traditionally worn on the forehead of married Hindu women.
bl..BL4To tell tales; to gossip without reserve or discretion.
bl..BL4Nonsense; drivel; idle, meaningless talk.
bl...BL5Having a soothing effect; not irritating or stimulating.
bl..BL4To cease (from); to stop; to desist, to let up.
bl...BL5Unable to see, due to physiological or neurological factors.
bl...BL5A small pancake, of Russian origin, made from buckwheat flour; traditionally served with melted butter, sour cream and caviar or smoked salmon.
ha......HA8A team sport where two teams of seven players each (six players and a goalkeeper) pass and bounce a ball trying to throw it in the goal of the opposing team.
la...LA5The folds of tissue at the opening of the vulva, at either side of the vagina.
la....LA6Of or pertaining to the lips or labia.
li.......LI9Relating or pertaining to the libido.

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.

  • handbill  (HA8)
  • alibi  (AL5)
  • baba  (BA4)
  • bail  (BA4)
  • bald  (BA4)
  • ball  (BA4)
  • ballad  (BA6)
  • banal  (BA5)
  • banana  (BA6)
  • band  (BA4)
  • bandana  (BA7)
  • bandanna  (BA8)
  • bilabial  (BI8)
  • bill  (BI4)
  • bind  (BI4)
  • bindi  (BI5)
  • blab  (BL4)
  • blah  (BL4)
  • bland  (BL5)
  • blin  (BL4)
  • blind  (BL5)
  • blini  (BL5)
  • handball  (HA8)
  • labia  (LA5)
  • labial  (LA6)
  • libidinal  (LI9)

Answer Definitions

  • handbill (noun): A pruning hook.
  • alibi (noun): The plea or mode of defense under which a person on trial for a crime proves or attempts to prove being in another place when the alleged act was committed.
  • baba (noun): A kind of sponge cake soaked in rum-flavoured syrup.
  • bail (noun): Security, usually a sum of money, exchanged for the release of an arrested person as a guarantee of that person's appearance for trial.
  • bald (adjective): Having no hair, fur or feathers.
  • ball (noun): A solid or hollow sphere, or roughly spherical mass.
  • ballad (noun): A kind of narrative poem, adapted for recitation or singing; especially, a sentimental or romantic poem in short stanzas.
  • banal (adjective): Common in a boring way, to the point of being predictable; containing nothing new or fresh.
  • 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
  • bilabial (adjective): Articulated with both lips.
  • 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.
  • bind (verb): To tie; to confine by any ligature.
  • bindi (noun): The “holy dot” traditionally worn on the forehead of married Hindu women.
  • blab (verb): To tell tales; to gossip without reserve or discretion.
  • blah (noun): Nonsense; drivel; idle, meaningless talk.
  • bland (adjective): Having a soothing effect; not irritating or stimulating.
  • blin (verb): To cease (from); to stop; to desist, to let up.
  • blind (adjective): Unable to see, due to physiological or neurological factors.
  • blini (noun): A small pancake, of Russian origin, made from buckwheat flour; traditionally served with melted butter, sour cream and caviar or smoked salmon.
  • handball (noun): A team sport where two teams of seven players each (six players and a goalkeeper) pass and bounce a ball trying to throw it in the goal of the opposing team.
  • labia (noun): The folds of tissue at the opening of the vulva, at either side of the vagina.
  • labial (adjective): Of or pertaining to the lips or labia.
  • libidinal (adjective): Relating or pertaining to the libido.