NYT Spelling Bee Answers for May 21, 2024

Spelling Bee "Hive" Board for May 21, 2024

Game Summary

Spelling Bee "Hive" Board for May 21, 2024
Center LetterL
Outer Lettersb, e, f, i, n, u
# of Pangrams2 (Perfect: 1)
Total Words53 words
Total Points210 points
Genius Level147 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 21, 2024

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>8Σ
B7532118
E-1--12
F9141-15
I--1--1
L82-1112
N1-3--4
U----11
Σ259114453

Two-Letter List (2LL) Hints

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

B
BE×6
BI×3
BL×6
BU×3
E
EL×1
EN×1
F
FE×5
FI×2
FL×4
FU×4
I
IN×1
L
LI×8
LU×4
N
NI×1
NU×3
U
UN×1

Three-Letter List (3LL) Hints

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

B
BEE×1
BEF×1
BEL×4
BIB×1
BIL×2
BLI×2
BLU×4
BUB×1
BUL×2
E
ELF×1
ENF×1
F
FEE×2
FEL×2
FEN×1
FIL×2
FLE×1
FLU×3
FUE×1
FUL×2
FUN×1
I
INF×1
L
LIB×2
LIE×2
LIF×2
LIN×2
LUB×1
LUL×2
LUN×1
N
NIB×1
NUB×2
NUL×1
U
UNB×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 ().

Word2L RefDefinition (click to reveal)
bl..... BL7bluefin tuna, any of a number of types of tuna characterised by their blue fins.
un...... UN8An absence (or rejection) of belief, especially religious belief
be.....BE7A very direct or quick path or trip.
be....BE6simple past tense of befall
be...BE5To lie around; encompass.
be....BE6Mental acceptance of a claim as true.
be..BE4A percussive instrument made of metal or other hard material, typically but not always in the shape of an inverted cup with a flared rim, which resonates when struck.
be...BE5An attractive woman.
bi...BI5Alternative letter-case form of Bible (“a specific version, edition, translation, or copy of the Christian religious text”)
bi..BI4A bitter brownish-yellow or greenish-yellow secretion produced by the liver, stored in the gall bladder, and discharged into the duodenum where it aids the process of digestion.
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.
bl..BL4To cease (from); to stop; to desist, to let up.
bl...BL5A small pancake, of Russian origin, made from buckwheat flour; traditionally served with melted butter, sour cream and caviar or smoked salmon.
bl..BL4Having blue as its color.
bl......BL8Various flowering plants with blue, usually pendulous, flowers. In genus Hyacinthoides common bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) Spanish bluebell (Hyacinthoides hispanica) Italian bluebell (Hyacinthoides italica) In other genera genus Muscari, the grape hyacinth) Virginia bluebell (Mertensia virginica) Scottish bluebell (harebell) (Campanula rotundifolia) Australian royal bluebell (Wahlenbergia gloriosa) Texas bluebell (Eustoma russellianum) desert bluebell or California bluebell (Phacelia campanularia)
bl...BL5An act of bluffing; a false expression of the strength of one's position in order to intimidate; braggadocio.
bu....BU6A spherically contained volume of air or other gas, especially one made from soapy liquid.
bu..BU4Any solid object rounded at one end and tapering on the other, possibly attached to a larger object at the tapered end.
bu..BU4An adult male of domesticated cattle or oxen. Specifically, one that is uncastrated.
el...EL5An elf; an inhabitant of fairy-land.
en......EN8To make feeble.
fe....FE6Deficient in physical strength.
fe..FE4To use or experience the sense of touch. To become aware of through the skin; to use the sense of touch on.
fe....FE6Of or pertaining to cats.
fe..FE4To make something fall; especially to chop down a tree.
fe....FE6A plant, Foeniculum vulgare, of the parsley family, which has a sweet, anise-like flavor.
fi..FI4A collection of papers collated and archived together.
fi..FI4To occupy fully, to take up all of.
fl..FL4To run away; to escape.
fl..FL4An error; a mistake in the performance of an action.
fl..FL4A pipe or duct that carries gaseous combustion products away from the point of combustion (such as a furnace).
fl...FL5Anything light, soft or fuzzy, especially fur, hair, feathers.
fu..FU4Substance consumed to provide energy through combustion, or through chemical or nuclear reaction.
fu.....FU7To satisfy, carry out, bring to completion (an obligation, a requirement, etc.).
fu..FU4Containing the maximum possible amount that can fit in the space available.
fu....FU6A utensil in the shape of an inverted hollow cone terminating in a narrow pipe, for channeling liquids or granular material; typically used when transferring said substances from any container into ones with a significantly smaller opening.
in....IN6To fill in a space, hole or gap.
li...LI5A written or pictorial false statement which unjustly seeks to damage someone's reputation.
li.....LI7The party against which a libel (hostile handbill) has been filed by a libelant.
li..LI4A tendon.
li..LI4A place or stead; See in lieu or in lieu of
li..LI4The state of organisms preceding their death, characterized by biological processes such as metabolism and reproduction and distinguishing them from inanimate objects; the state of being alive and living.
li......LI8A line to which a drowning or falling victim may cling.
li..LI4A path through two or more points (compare ‘segment’); a continuous mark, including as made by a pen; any path, curved or straight.
li...LI5Thread or cloth made from flax fiber.
lu..LU4Lubricant.
lu..LU4A period of rest or soothing.
lu..LU4A remarkable person, object or idea.
lu..LU4A fit of lunacy or madness; a period of frenzy; a crazy or unreasonable freak.
ni....NI6A small, quick bite taken with the front teeth.
nu....NU6A small knob or lump.
nu....NU6Of an age suitable for marriage; marriageable (principally of a young woman).
nu..NU4A non-existent or empty value or set of values.

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.

  • bluefin  (BL7)
  • unbelief  (UN8)
  • beeline  (BE7)
  • befell  (BE6)
  • belie  (BE5)
  • belief  (BE6)
  • bell  (BE4)
  • belle  (BE5)
  • bible  (BI5)
  • bile  (BI4)
  • bill  (BI4)
  • blin  (BL4)
  • blini  (BL5)
  • blue  (BL4)
  • bluebell  (BL8)
  • bluff  (BL5)
  • bubble  (BU6)
  • bulb  (BU4)
  • bull  (BU4)
  • elfin  (EL5)
  • enfeeble  (EN8)
  • feeble  (FE6)
  • feel  (FE4)
  • feline  (FE6)
  • fell  (FE4)
  • fennel  (FE6)
  • file  (FI4)
  • fill  (FI4)
  • flee  (FL4)
  • flub  (FL4)
  • flue  (FL4)
  • fluff  (FL5)
  • fuel  (FU4)
  • fulfill  (FU7)
  • full  (FU4)
  • funnel  (FU6)
  • infill  (IN6)
  • libel  (LI5)
  • libelee  (LI7)
  • lien  (LI4)
  • lieu  (LI4)
  • life  (LI4)
  • lifeline  (LI8)
  • line  (LI4)
  • linen  (LI5)
  • lube  (LU4)
  • lull  (LU4)
  • lulu  (LU4)
  • lune  (LU4)
  • nibble  (NI6)
  • nubble  (NU6)
  • nubile  (NU6)
  • null  (NU4)

Answer Definitions

  • bluefin (noun): bluefin tuna, any of a number of types of tuna characterised by their blue fins.
  • unbelief (noun): An absence (or rejection) of belief, especially religious belief
  • beeline (noun): A very direct or quick path or trip.
  • befell (verb): simple past tense of befall
  • belie (verb): To lie around; encompass.
  • belief (noun): Mental acceptance of a claim as true.
  • bell (noun): A percussive instrument made of metal or other hard material, typically but not always in the shape of an inverted cup with a flared rim, which resonates when struck.
  • belle (noun): An attractive woman.
  • bible (noun): Alternative letter-case form of Bible (“a specific version, edition, translation, or copy of the Christian religious text”)
  • bile (noun): A bitter brownish-yellow or greenish-yellow secretion produced by the liver, stored in the gall bladder, and discharged into the duodenum where it aids the process of digestion.
  • 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.
  • blin (verb): To cease (from); to stop; to desist, to let up.
  • blini (noun): A small pancake, of Russian origin, made from buckwheat flour; traditionally served with melted butter, sour cream and caviar or smoked salmon.
  • blue (adjective): Having blue as its color.
  • bluebell (noun): Various flowering plants with blue, usually pendulous, flowers. In genus Hyacinthoides common bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) Spanish bluebell (Hyacinthoides hispanica) Italian bluebell (Hyacinthoides italica) In other genera genus Muscari, the grape hyacinth) Virginia bluebell (Mertensia virginica) Scottish bluebell (harebell) (Campanula rotundifolia) Australian royal bluebell (Wahlenbergia gloriosa) Texas bluebell (Eustoma russellianum) desert bluebell or California bluebell (Phacelia campanularia)
  • bluff (noun): An act of bluffing; a false expression of the strength of one's position in order to intimidate; braggadocio.
  • bubble (noun): A spherically contained volume of air or other gas, especially one made from soapy liquid.
  • bulb (noun): Any solid object rounded at one end and tapering on the other, possibly attached to a larger object at the tapered end.
  • bull (noun): An adult male of domesticated cattle or oxen. Specifically, one that is uncastrated.
  • elfin (noun): An elf; an inhabitant of fairy-land.
  • enfeeble (verb): To make feeble.
  • feeble (adjective): Deficient in physical strength.
  • feel (verb): To use or experience the sense of touch. To become aware of through the skin; to use the sense of touch on.
  • feline (adjective): Of or pertaining to cats.
  • fell (verb): To make something fall; especially to chop down a tree.
  • fennel (noun): A plant, Foeniculum vulgare, of the parsley family, which has a sweet, anise-like flavor.
  • file (noun): A collection of papers collated and archived together.
  • fill (verb): To occupy fully, to take up all of.
  • flee (verb): To run away; to escape.
  • flub (noun): An error; a mistake in the performance of an action.
  • flue (noun): A pipe or duct that carries gaseous combustion products away from the point of combustion (such as a furnace).
  • fluff (noun): Anything light, soft or fuzzy, especially fur, hair, feathers.
  • fuel (noun): Substance consumed to provide energy through combustion, or through chemical or nuclear reaction.
  • fulfill (verb): To satisfy, carry out, bring to completion (an obligation, a requirement, etc.).
  • full (adjective): Containing the maximum possible amount that can fit in the space available.
  • funnel (noun): A utensil in the shape of an inverted hollow cone terminating in a narrow pipe, for channeling liquids or granular material; typically used when transferring said substances from any container into ones with a significantly smaller opening.
  • infill (verb): To fill in a space, hole or gap.
  • libel (noun): A written or pictorial false statement which unjustly seeks to damage someone's reputation.
  • libelee (noun): The party against which a libel (hostile handbill) has been filed by a libelant.
  • lien (noun): A tendon.
  • lieu (noun): A place or stead; See in lieu or in lieu of
  • life (noun): The state of organisms preceding their death, characterized by biological processes such as metabolism and reproduction and distinguishing them from inanimate objects; the state of being alive and living.
  • lifeline (noun): A line to which a drowning or falling victim may cling.
  • line (noun): A path through two or more points (compare ‘segment’); a continuous mark, including as made by a pen; any path, curved or straight.
  • linen (noun): Thread or cloth made from flax fiber.
  • lube (noun): Lubricant.
  • lull (noun): A period of rest or soothing.
  • lulu (noun): A remarkable person, object or idea.
  • lune (noun): A fit of lunacy or madness; a period of frenzy; a crazy or unreasonable freak.
  • nibble (noun): A small, quick bite taken with the front teeth.
  • nubble (noun): A small knob or lump.
  • nubile (adjective): Of an age suitable for marriage; marriageable (principally of a young woman).
  • null (noun): A non-existent or empty value or set of values.