NYT Spelling Bee Answers for May 31, 2024
Game Summary
| Center Letter | A |
|---|---|
| Outer Letters | b, i, o, r, t, v |
| # of Pangrams | 2 (Perfect: 1) |
| Total Words | 50 words |
| Total Points | 253 points |
| Genius Level | 177 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 | Σ | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 1 | 6 | 1 | 3 | - | - | 1 | 12 |
| B | 7 | 4 | 2 | - | - | - | - | 13 |
| I | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 |
| O | - | - | 1 | - | 1 | - | - | 2 |
| R | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | - | - | - | 7 |
| T | 2 | 6 | 3 | 1 | - | 1 | - | 13 |
| V | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | - | - | 2 | Σ | 12 | 19 | 8 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 50 |
Two-Letter List (2LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding two letters.
| A | AB×2 AI×1 AO×1 AR×4 AT×2 AV×2 |
|---|---|
| B | BA×5 BI×1 BO×3 BR×4 |
| I | IO×1 |
| O | OR×2 |
| R | RA×5 RO×2 |
| T | TA×7 TI×2 TR×4 |
| V | VI×2 |
Three-Letter List (3LL) Hints
The following list shows the number of solution words that begin with the corresponding three letters.
| A | ABB×1 ABO×1 AIR×1 AOR×1 ARB×3 ARI×1 ATR×1 ATT×1 AVA×1 AVI×1 |
|---|---|
| B | BAB×1 BAI×1 BAO×1 BAR×2 BIO×1 BOA×2 BOB×1 BRA×3 BRI×1 |
| I | IOT×1 |
| O | ORA×2 |
| R | RAB×2 RAI×1 RAT×2 ROA×1 ROT×1 |
| T | TAB×2 TAR×4 TAT×1 TIA×1 TIB×1 TRA×3 TRI×1 |
| V | VIB×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 (†).
| Word | 2L Ref | Definition (click to reveal) |
|---|---|---|
| vi..... † | VI7 | The musical effect or technique where the pitch or frequency of a note or sound is quickly and repeatedly raised and lowered over a small distance for the duration of that note or sound. |
| vi...... † | VI8 | A device that vibrates or causes vibration. A vibrating device used for massage or sexual stimulation. |
| ab... | AB5 | The superior or head of an abbey or monastery. |
| ab... | AB5 | An early termination of a mission, action, or procedure in relation to missiles or spacecraft; the craft making such a mission. |
| ai..... | AI7 | A flat-bottomed boat driven by an in-air propeller and used in shallow water. |
| ao... | AO5 | The great artery which carries the blood from the heart to all parts of the body except the lungs; the main trunk of the arterial system. |
| ar........ | AR10 | A person to whom the authority to settle or judge a dispute is delegated. |
| ar... | AR5 | A shady sitting place or pergola usually in a park or garden, surrounded by climbing shrubs, vines or other vegetation. |
| ar..... | AR7 | A variety of short-grained starchy rice with a white dot at the center of each grain, commonly used in risotto. |
| ar.. | AR4 | A musical piece written typically for a solo voice with orchestral accompaniment in an opera or cantata. |
| at... | AT5 | plural of atrium |
| at... | AT5 | An essential oil extracted from flowers. |
| av.... | AV6 | An incarnation of a deity, particularly Vishnu. |
| av..... | AV7 | An aircraft pilot, especially a military pilot. The use of the word may imply claims of superior airmanship, as in navy aviator vs. air force pilot. |
| ba.. | BA4 | A kind of sponge cake soaked in rum-flavoured syrup. |
| ba.. | BA4 | Any substance, especially food, used in catching fish, or other animals, by alluring them to a hook, snare, trap, or net. |
| ba.... | BA6 | A tree, Adansonia digitata (and similar species), native to tropical Africa, having a broad swollen trunk and edible gourd-like hanging fruits. |
| ba.. | BA4 | The point that stands backward in an arrow, fishhook, etc., to prevent it from being easily extracted. Hence: Anything which stands out with a sharp point obliquely or crosswise to something else. |
| ba.... | BA6 | A slum on the periphery of a major city; a low to middle-class neighborhood in a lesser city. |
| bi... | BI5 | The living organisms of a region. |
| bo.. | BO4 | A wild boar (Sus scrofa), the wild ancestor of the domesticated pig. |
| bo.. | BO4 | A craft used for transportation of goods, fishing, racing, recreational cruising, or military use on or in the water, propelled by oars or outboard motor or inboard motor or by wind. |
| bo.. | BO4 | Synonym of tapioca pearl. |
| br.. | BR4 | A human child. A child who is regarded as mischievous, unruly, spoiled, or selfish. |
| br... | BR5 | Alternative form of bravo, when spoken to a female performer. |
| br... | BR5 | A hired soldier; an assassin; a desperado. |
| br... | BR5 | Any of many plants with thorny stems growing in dense clusters, such as many in the Rosa, Rubus, and Smilax genera. |
| io.. | IO4 | The ninth letter of the Greek alphabet. |
| or.... | OR6 | Someone who orates or delivers an oration. |
| or...... | OR8 | A musical composition, often based on a religious theme; similar to opera but with no costume, scenery or acting. |
| ra... | RA5 | A Jewish scholar or teacher of halacha (Jewish law), capable of making halachic decisions. |
| ra.... | RA6 | A mammal of the family Leporidae, with long ears, long hind legs and a short, fluffy tail. |
| ra... | RA5 | A condiment used as a dip or sauce in the cuisine of southern Asia, made from seasoned yogurt. |
| ra..... | RA7 | A swiftly repeated knocking sound. |
| ra... | RA5 | A number representing a comparison between two named things. |
| ro.. | RO4 | To make a loud, deep cry, especially from pain, anger, or other strong emotion. |
| ro..... | RO7 | One who or that which rotates. |
| ta... | TA5 | An inhibition or ban that results from social custom or emotional aversion. |
| ta... | TA5 | A small drum. In traditional music, a small drum played with a single stick, leaving the player's other hand free to play a melody on a three-holed pipe. |
| ta.. | TA4 | Colocasia esculenta, raised as a food primarily for its corm, which distantly resembles potato. |
| ta... | TA5 | A card game played in various different variations. |
| ta.. | TA4 | Sharp to the taste; acid; sour. |
| ta.... | TA6 | A red compound deposited during wine making; mostly potassium hydrogen tartrate — a source of cream of tartar. |
| ta.... | TA6 | An image made in the skin with ink and a needle. |
| ti... | TI5 | The papal crown. |
| ti... | TI5 | The inner and usually the larger of the two bones of the leg or hind limb below the knee, the shinbone |
| tr... | TR5 | An identifying characteristic, habit or trend. |
| tr..... | TR7 | Someone who violates an allegiance and betrays their country; someone guilty of treason; one who, in breach of trust, delivers their country to an enemy, or yields up any fort or place entrusted to their defense, or surrenders an army or body of troops to the enemy, unless when vanquished. |
| tr....... | TR9 | A small, informal Italian-style restaurant. |
| tr.... | TR6 | Insignificant trifles of little importance, especially items of unimportant information. |
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.
- vibrato† (VI7)
- vibrator† (VI8)
- abbot (AB5)
- abort (AB5)
- airboat (AI7)
- aorta (AO5)
- arbitrator (AR10)
- arbor (AR5)
- arborio (AR7)
- aria (AR4)
- atria (AT5)
- attar (AT5)
- avatar (AV6)
- aviator (AV7)
- baba (BA4)
- bait (BA4)
- baobab (BA6)
- barb (BA4)
- barrio (BA6)
- biota (BI5)
- boar (BO4)
- boat (BO4)
- boba (BO4)
- brat (BR4)
- brava (BR5)
- bravo (BR5)
- briar (BR5)
- iota (IO4)
- orator (OR6)
- oratorio (OR8)
- rabbi (RA5)
- rabbit (RA6)
- raita (RA5)
- ratatat (RA7)
- ratio (RA5)
- roar (RO4)
- rotator (RO7)
- taboo (TA5)
- tabor (TA5)
- taro (TA4)
- tarot (TA5)
- tart (TA4)
- tartar (TA6)
- tattoo (TA6)
- tiara (TI5)
- tibia (TI5)
- trait (TR5)
- traitor (TR7)
- trattoria (TR9)
- trivia (TR6)
Answer Definitions
- vibrato† (noun): The musical effect or technique where the pitch or frequency of a note or sound is quickly and repeatedly raised and lowered over a small distance for the duration of that note or sound.
- vibrator† (noun): A device that vibrates or causes vibration. A vibrating device used for massage or sexual stimulation.
- abbot (noun): The superior or head of an abbey or monastery.
- abort (noun): An early termination of a mission, action, or procedure in relation to missiles or spacecraft; the craft making such a mission.
- airboat (noun): A flat-bottomed boat driven by an in-air propeller and used in shallow water.
- aorta (noun): The great artery which carries the blood from the heart to all parts of the body except the lungs; the main trunk of the arterial system.
- arbitrator (noun): A person to whom the authority to settle or judge a dispute is delegated.
- arbor (noun): A shady sitting place or pergola usually in a park or garden, surrounded by climbing shrubs, vines or other vegetation.
- arborio (noun): A variety of short-grained starchy rice with a white dot at the center of each grain, commonly used in risotto.
- aria (noun): A musical piece written typically for a solo voice with orchestral accompaniment in an opera or cantata.
- atria (noun): plural of atrium
- attar (noun): An essential oil extracted from flowers.
- avatar (noun): An incarnation of a deity, particularly Vishnu.
- aviator (noun): An aircraft pilot, especially a military pilot. The use of the word may imply claims of superior airmanship, as in navy aviator vs. air force pilot.
- baba (noun): A kind of sponge cake soaked in rum-flavoured syrup.
- bait (noun): Any substance, especially food, used in catching fish, or other animals, by alluring them to a hook, snare, trap, or net.
- baobab (noun): A tree, Adansonia digitata (and similar species), native to tropical Africa, having a broad swollen trunk and edible gourd-like hanging fruits.
- barb (noun): The point that stands backward in an arrow, fishhook, etc., to prevent it from being easily extracted. Hence: Anything which stands out with a sharp point obliquely or crosswise to something else.
- barrio (noun): A slum on the periphery of a major city; a low to middle-class neighborhood in a lesser city.
- biota (noun): The living organisms of a region.
- boar (noun): A wild boar (Sus scrofa), the wild ancestor of the domesticated pig.
- boat (noun): A craft used for transportation of goods, fishing, racing, recreational cruising, or military use on or in the water, propelled by oars or outboard motor or inboard motor or by wind.
- boba (noun): Synonym of tapioca pearl.
- brat (noun): A human child. A child who is regarded as mischievous, unruly, spoiled, or selfish.
- brava (interjection): Alternative form of bravo, when spoken to a female performer.
- bravo (noun): A hired soldier; an assassin; a desperado.
- briar (noun): Any of many plants with thorny stems growing in dense clusters, such as many in the Rosa, Rubus, and Smilax genera.
- iota (noun): The ninth letter of the Greek alphabet.
- orator (noun): Someone who orates or delivers an oration.
- oratorio (noun): A musical composition, often based on a religious theme; similar to opera but with no costume, scenery or acting.
- rabbi (noun): A Jewish scholar or teacher of halacha (Jewish law), capable of making halachic decisions.
- rabbit (noun): A mammal of the family Leporidae, with long ears, long hind legs and a short, fluffy tail.
- raita (noun): A condiment used as a dip or sauce in the cuisine of southern Asia, made from seasoned yogurt.
- ratatat (noun): A swiftly repeated knocking sound.
- ratio (noun): A number representing a comparison between two named things.
- roar (verb): To make a loud, deep cry, especially from pain, anger, or other strong emotion.
- rotator (noun): One who or that which rotates.
- taboo (noun): An inhibition or ban that results from social custom or emotional aversion.
- tabor (noun): A small drum. In traditional music, a small drum played with a single stick, leaving the player's other hand free to play a melody on a three-holed pipe.
- taro (noun): Colocasia esculenta, raised as a food primarily for its corm, which distantly resembles potato.
- tarot (noun): A card game played in various different variations.
- tart (adjective): Sharp to the taste; acid; sour.
- tartar (noun): A red compound deposited during wine making; mostly potassium hydrogen tartrate — a source of cream of tartar.
- tattoo (noun): An image made in the skin with ink and a needle.
- tiara (noun): The papal crown.
- tibia (noun): The inner and usually the larger of the two bones of the leg or hind limb below the knee, the shinbone
- trait (noun): An identifying characteristic, habit or trend.
- traitor (noun): Someone who violates an allegiance and betrays their country; someone guilty of treason; one who, in breach of trust, delivers their country to an enemy, or yields up any fort or place entrusted to their defense, or surrenders an army or body of troops to the enemy, unless when vanquished.
- trattoria (noun): A small, informal Italian-style restaurant.
- trivia (noun): Insignificant trifles of little importance, especially items of unimportant information.