NYT Spelling Bee Answers for May 16, 2024
Game Summary
| Center Letter | L |
|---|---|
| Outer Letters | a, g, i, n, t, v |
| # of Pangrams | 3 (Perfect: none) |
| Total Words | 76 words |
| Total Points | 439 points |
| Genius Level | 307 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</th><th>10</th><th>11</th><th>12 | Σ | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 3 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | - | - | - | - | 13 |
| G | 5 | 1 | - | 4 | 4 | 1 | - | - | 1 | 16 |
| I | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | 1 | - | - | 2 |
| L | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | - | 1 | - | - | 14 |
| N | 1 | 2 | - | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 5 |
| T | 5 | - | 2 | 3 | 3 | - | 1 | 1 | - | 15 |
| V | 1 | 4 | - | 4 | 2 | - | - | - | - | 11 | Σ | 19 | 14 | 6 | 17 | 14 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 76 |
Two-Letter List (2LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding two letters.
| A | AI×1 AL×5 AN×4 AT×1 AV×2 |
|---|---|
| G | GA×9 GI×4 GL×3 |
| I | IN×2 |
| L | LA×6 LI×8 |
| N | NA×4 NI×1 |
| T | TA×8 TI×7 |
| V | VA×5 VI×6 |
Three-Letter List (3LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding three letters.
| A | AIL×1 ALG×2 ALI×3 ANA×1 ANG×1 ANN×1 ANV×1 ATI×1 AVA×2 |
|---|---|
| G | GAL×7 GAN×2 GIG×1 GIL×3 GLI×3 |
| I | INI×2 |
| L | LAG×1 LAI×1 LAN×2 LAV×2 LIG×1 LIL×2 LIN×2 LIT×2 LIV×1 |
| N | NAI×2 NAT×1 NAV×1 NIG×1 |
| T | TAI×3 TAL×3 TAN×1 TAT×1 TIL×5 TIN×1 TIT×1 |
| V | VAG×2 VAL×1 VAN×2 VIA×1 VIG×2 VIL×2 VIT×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) |
|---|---|---|
| ga....... † | GA9 | To roam about for pleasure without any definite plan. |
| ga.......... † | GA12 | present participle and gerund of gallivant |
| vi...... † | VI8 | Watchful, especially for danger or disorder; alert; wary |
| ai.... | AI6 | An ailment. |
| al.. | AL4 | Any of many aquatic photosynthetic organisms, including the seaweeds, whose size ranges from a single cell to giant kelps and whose biochemistry and forms are very diverse, some being eukaryotic. |
| al... | AL5 | Pertaining to, or like, algae. |
| al... | AL5 | To form a line; to fall into line. |
| al...... | AL8 | present participle of align |
| al.. | AL4 | simple past tense and past participle of alight |
| an.. | AN4 | of, related to, intended for or involving the anus. |
| an..... | AN7 | present participle of angle |
| an... | AN5 | The record of a single event or item. |
| an... | AN5 | A heavy iron block used in the blacksmithing trade as a surface upon which metal can be struck and shaped. |
| at... | AT5 | At an angle from the vertical or horizontal. |
| av... | AV5 | To turn to the advantage of. |
| av...... | AV8 | present participle and gerund of avail |
| ga.. | GA4 | Celebratory; festive. |
| ga...... | GA8 | Any of several east Asian plants of genera Alpinia and Kaempferia in the ginger family, used as a spice, but principally Alpinia galanga. |
| ga.. | GA4 | Bile, especially that of an animal; the greenish, profoundly bitter-tasting fluid found in bile ducts and gall bladders, structures associated with the liver. |
| ga..... | GA7 | Brave, valiant. |
| ga..... | GA7 | Vexing, humiliating; eliciting indignation or bitterness. |
| ga..... | GA7 | plural of ganglion – clusters of nerves |
| ga...... | GA8 | Awkwardly tall and thin, ungraceful. |
| gi...... | GI8 | present participle of giggle |
| gi.. | GI4 | a breathing organ of fish and other aquatic animals |
| gi..... | GI7 | present participle of gill |
| gi.. | GI4 | Gold or other metal in a thin layer; gilding. Gold-colored paint or other coating. |
| gl.. | GL4 | The network of glial cells that supports nervous system tissue. |
| gl... | GL5 | A short flash of light. |
| gl...... | GL8 | present participle of glint |
| in..... | IN7 | Chronologically first, early; of or pertaining to the beginning, cause or origin. |
| in........ | IN10 | present participle and gerund of initial |
| la..... | LA7 | falling behind, not keeping up the pace |
| la.. | LA4 | past participle of lie (“to be oriented in a horizontal position, situated”) |
| la... | LA5 | A Hawaiian-style roofed patio. |
| la..... | LA7 | Any member of the genus Lantana of perennial verbenas with aromatic flower clusters. |
| la.. | LA4 | The molten rock ejected by a volcano from its crater or fissured sides. |
| la.... | LA6 | present participle and gerund of lave |
| li...... | LI8 | present participle and gerund of ligate |
| li.. | LI4 | To do something rhythmically, with animation and quickness, usually of music. |
| li..... | LI7 | Having a lilt; with energy, spirit and sprightliness; lively and cheerful. |
| li.... | LI6 | A covering for the inside surface of something. |
| li.. | LI4 | Clinging fuzzy fluff that clings to fabric or accumulates in one's pockets or navel etc. |
| li...... | LI8 | A party suing or being sued in a lawsuit, or otherwise calling upon the judicial process to determine the outcome of a suit. |
| li........ | LI10 | present participle and gerund of litigate |
| li.... | LI6 | present participle of live |
| na.. | NA4 | The thin, horny plate at the ends of fingers and toes on humans and some other animals. |
| na..... | NA7 | present participle of nail |
| na... | NA5 | Of or relating to birth. |
| na... | NA5 | Of or relating to a navy. |
| ni...... | NI8 | present participle of niggle |
| ta.. | TA4 | The caudal appendage of an animal that is attached to its posterior and near the anus. |
| ta........ | TA10 | present participle and gerund of tailgate |
| ta..... | TA7 | present participle and gerund of tail |
| ta.. | TA4 | plural of talus |
| ta.. | TA4 | Having a vertical extent greater than the average. For example, somebody with a height of over 6 feet would generally be considered to be tall. |
| ta.... | TA6 | A traditional Jewish prayer shawl with tassels which covers the chest and upper part of the back. |
| ta...... | TA8 | present participle and gerund of tangle |
| ta...... | TA8 | present participle and gerund of tattle |
| ti.... | TI6 | A covering of tiles. |
| ti.. | TI4 | Until; to, up to; as late as (a given time). |
| ti..... | TI7 | present participle of till |
| ti.. | TI4 | To slope or incline (something); to slant. |
| ti..... | TI7 | present participle of tilt |
| ti...... | TI8 | A tingling sensation; pins and needles. |
| ti......... | TI11 | present participle and gerund of titillate |
| va... | VA5 | Of or relating to the vagus nerve. |
| va..... | VA7 | Of, relating to, or affecting the vagina. |
| va..... | VA7 | Possessing or showing courage or determination; brave, heroic. |
| va..... | VA7 | Any tropical, climbing orchid of the genus Vanilla (especially Vanilla planifolia), bearing podlike fruit yielding an extract used in flavoring food or in perfumes. |
| va...... | VA8 | A chemical compound, 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde, that is the primary constituent of vanilla. |
| vi.. | VI4 | A glass vessel or bottle, especially a small tube-shaped bottle used to store medicine, perfume or other chemicals. |
| vi... | VI5 | An instance of keeping awake during normal sleeping hours, especially to keep watch or pray. |
| vi... | VI5 | A house, often larger and more expensive than average, in the countryside or on the coast, often used as a retreat. |
| vi..... | VI7 | (Can we clean up this sense?) A vile, wicked person. An extremely depraved person, or one capable or guilty of great crimes. A deliberate scoundrel. |
| vi... | VI5 | Relating to, or characteristic of life. |
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.
- gallivant† (GA9)
- gallivanting† (GA12)
- vigilant† (VI8)
- ailing (AI6)
- alga (AL4)
- algal (AL5)
- align (AL5)
- aligning (AL8)
- alit (AL4)
- anal (AN4)
- angling (AN7)
- annal (AN5)
- anvil (AN5)
- atilt (AT5)
- avail (AV5)
- availing (AV8)
- gala (GA4)
- galangal (GA8)
- gall (GA4)
- gallant (GA7)
- galling (GA7)
- ganglia (GA7)
- gangling (GA8)
- giggling (GI8)
- gill (GI4)
- gilling (GI7)
- gilt (GI4)
- glia (GL4)
- glint (GL5)
- glinting (GL8)
- initial (IN7)
- initialing (IN10)
- lagging (LA7)
- lain (LA4)
- lanai (LA5)
- lantana (LA7)
- lava (LA4)
- laving (LA6)
- ligating (LI8)
- lilt (LI4)
- lilting (LI7)
- lining (LI6)
- lint (LI4)
- litigant (LI8)
- litigating (LI10)
- living (LI6)
- nail (NA4)
- nailing (NA7)
- natal (NA5)
- naval (NA5)
- niggling (NI8)
- tail (TA4)
- tailgating (TA10)
- tailing (TA7)
- tali (TA4)
- tall (TA4)
- tallit (TA6)
- tangling (TA8)
- tattling (TA8)
- tiling (TI6)
- till (TI4)
- tilling (TI7)
- tilt (TI4)
- tilting (TI7)
- tingling (TI8)
- titillating (TI11)
- vagal (VA5)
- vaginal (VA7)
- valiant (VA7)
- vanilla (VA7)
- vanillin (VA8)
- vial (VI4)
- vigil (VI5)
- villa (VI5)
- villain (VI7)
- vital (VI5)
Answer Definitions
- gallivant† (verb): To roam about for pleasure without any definite plan.
- gallivanting† (verb): present participle and gerund of gallivant
- vigilant† (adjective): Watchful, especially for danger or disorder; alert; wary
- ailing (noun): An ailment.
- alga (noun): Any of many aquatic photosynthetic organisms, including the seaweeds, whose size ranges from a single cell to giant kelps and whose biochemistry and forms are very diverse, some being eukaryotic.
- algal (adjective): Pertaining to, or like, algae.
- align (verb): To form a line; to fall into line.
- aligning (verb): present participle of align
- alit (verb): simple past tense and past participle of alight
- anal (adjective): of, related to, intended for or involving the anus.
- angling (verb): present participle of angle
- annal (noun): The record of a single event or item.
- anvil (noun): A heavy iron block used in the blacksmithing trade as a surface upon which metal can be struck and shaped.
- atilt (adjective): At an angle from the vertical or horizontal.
- avail (verb): To turn to the advantage of.
- availing (verb): present participle and gerund of avail
- gala (adjective): Celebratory; festive.
- galangal (noun): Any of several east Asian plants of genera Alpinia and Kaempferia in the ginger family, used as a spice, but principally Alpinia galanga.
- gall (noun): Bile, especially that of an animal; the greenish, profoundly bitter-tasting fluid found in bile ducts and gall bladders, structures associated with the liver.
- gallant (adjective): Brave, valiant.
- galling (adjective): Vexing, humiliating; eliciting indignation or bitterness.
- ganglia (noun): plural of ganglion – clusters of nerves
- gangling (adjective): Awkwardly tall and thin, ungraceful.
- giggling (verb): present participle of giggle
- gill (noun): a breathing organ of fish and other aquatic animals
- gilling (verb): present participle of gill
- gilt (noun): Gold or other metal in a thin layer; gilding. Gold-colored paint or other coating.
- glia (noun): The network of glial cells that supports nervous system tissue.
- glint (noun): A short flash of light.
- glinting (verb): present participle of glint
- initial (adjective): Chronologically first, early; of or pertaining to the beginning, cause or origin.
- initialing (verb): present participle and gerund of initial
- lagging (adjective): falling behind, not keeping up the pace
- lain (verb): past participle of lie (“to be oriented in a horizontal position, situated”)
- lanai (noun): A Hawaiian-style roofed patio.
- lantana (noun): Any member of the genus Lantana of perennial verbenas with aromatic flower clusters.
- lava (noun): The molten rock ejected by a volcano from its crater or fissured sides.
- laving (verb): present participle and gerund of lave
- ligating (verb): present participle and gerund of ligate
- lilt (verb): To do something rhythmically, with animation and quickness, usually of music.
- lilting (adjective): Having a lilt; with energy, spirit and sprightliness; lively and cheerful.
- lining (noun): A covering for the inside surface of something.
- lint (noun): Clinging fuzzy fluff that clings to fabric or accumulates in one's pockets or navel etc.
- litigant (noun): A party suing or being sued in a lawsuit, or otherwise calling upon the judicial process to determine the outcome of a suit.
- litigating (verb): present participle and gerund of litigate
- living (verb): present participle of live
- nail (noun): The thin, horny plate at the ends of fingers and toes on humans and some other animals.
- nailing (verb): present participle of nail
- natal (adjective): Of or relating to birth.
- naval (adjective): Of or relating to a navy.
- niggling (verb): present participle of niggle
- tail (noun): The caudal appendage of an animal that is attached to its posterior and near the anus.
- tailgating (verb): present participle and gerund of tailgate
- tailing (verb): present participle and gerund of tail
- tali (noun): plural of talus
- tall (adjective): Having a vertical extent greater than the average. For example, somebody with a height of over 6 feet would generally be considered to be tall.
- tallit (noun): A traditional Jewish prayer shawl with tassels which covers the chest and upper part of the back.
- tangling (verb): present participle and gerund of tangle
- tattling (verb): present participle and gerund of tattle
- tiling (noun): A covering of tiles.
- till (preposition): Until; to, up to; as late as (a given time).
- tilling (verb): present participle of till
- tilt (verb): To slope or incline (something); to slant.
- tilting (verb): present participle of tilt
- tingling (noun): A tingling sensation; pins and needles.
- titillating (verb): present participle and gerund of titillate
- vagal (adjective): Of or relating to the vagus nerve.
- vaginal (adjective): Of, relating to, or affecting the vagina.
- valiant (adjective): Possessing or showing courage or determination; brave, heroic.
- vanilla (noun): Any tropical, climbing orchid of the genus Vanilla (especially Vanilla planifolia), bearing podlike fruit yielding an extract used in flavoring food or in perfumes.
- vanillin (noun): A chemical compound, 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde, that is the primary constituent of vanilla.
- vial (noun): A glass vessel or bottle, especially a small tube-shaped bottle used to store medicine, perfume or other chemicals.
- vigil (noun): An instance of keeping awake during normal sleeping hours, especially to keep watch or pray.
- villa (noun): A house, often larger and more expensive than average, in the countryside or on the coast, often used as a retreat.
- villain (noun): (Can we clean up this sense?) A vile, wicked person. An extremely depraved person, or one capable or guilty of great crimes. A deliberate scoundrel.
- vital (adjective): Relating to, or characteristic of life.