crossword

American  

[kraws-wurd, kros-] / ˈkrɔsˌwɜrd, ˈkrɒs- /

noun

• crosswords
  plural

1. a crossword puzzle.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• crosswords
  plural

Etymology

Origin of crossword

First recorded in 1910–15

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

crossword crosswords

A satisfying puzzle break: What’s a four-letter word for “Those who often hear a siren song”? Treat your brain to some delightful wordplay in today’s crossword.

From Slate ● Jul. 22, 2026

"You could really see the opportunity -- not just for a crossword puzzle, but for a collection of games," he noted.

From Barron's ● May 16, 2026

Much like Wordle, the player gets to solve one cryptic crossword clue a day, the game becomes progressively harder as the week goes on.

From BBC ● Mar. 30, 2026

He notes that the interwar period allowed increased leisure time for many, generating fads for new games such as the clue-based crossword puzzle.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 20, 2026

Englishmen hate many things, but no one is despised more than the man who sits by you on the morning train and solves your crossword puzzle.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

As for me, I now read news on my phone, text my friends, do crosswords when I am bored, which feels far different to scrolling.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026

An oddly satisfying word game: If you’re a fan of crosswords, we have a new twist for you.

From Slate ● Aug. 4, 2026

Under the blankets, a few plastic bottles filled with hot water and power banks for her phone, on which she played crosswords.

From Barron's ● Jan. 28, 2026

I grew up doing crosswords, riddles and rebuses.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2025

I've been told that crosswords puzzles help fight the advance of Alzheimer's Disease, but that had nothing to do with my initiation.

From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris