The Unofficial Hive

NYT Spelling Bee answers & analysis

ABCEILP

Friday, February 27, 2026

Words
55
Points
241
Genius
168
Pangrams
2

Official answers

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Pangrams highlighted. Click a word for its definition.

  • alpaca

    noun — A sheep-like animal of the Andes, Vicugna pacos, in the camel family, closely related to the llama, guanaco, and vicuña.

    noun — Wool from the alpaca.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • apace

    adverb — Quickly, rapidly, with speed.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • apiece

    adverb — Each by itself; for or to each one

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • appall

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 8 recorded puzzles.

  • appeal

    noun — An application for the removal of a cause or suit from an inferior to a superior judge or court for re-examination or review.

    verb — To call upon another to decide a question controverted, to corroborate a statement, to vindicate one's rights, etc.

    noun — The mode of proceeding by which such removal is effected.

    noun — The right of appeal.

    noun — An accusation; a process which formerly might be instituted by one private person against another for some heinous crime demanding punishment for the particular injury suffered, rather than for the offense against the public.

    noun — An accusation of a felon at common law by one of his accomplices, which accomplice was then called an approver.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • appealable

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • appellee

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • apple

    noun — A common, round fruit produced by the tree Malus domestica, cultivated in temperate climates.

    verb — To become apple-like.

    noun — Any of various tree-borne fruits or vegetables especially considered as resembling an apple; also (with qualifying words) used to form the names of other specific fruits such as custard apple, rose apple, thorn apple etc.

    noun — The fruit of the Tree of Knowledge, eaten by Adam and Eve according to post-Biblical Christian tradition; the forbidden fruit.

    noun — A tree of the genus Malus, especially one cultivated for its edible fruit; the apple tree.

    noun — The wood of the apple tree.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • applicable

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • beep

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • bicep

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • bleep

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • blip

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • capable

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • cape

    noun — A piece or point of land, extending beyond the adjacent coast into a sea or lake; a promontory; a headland.

    noun — A sleeveless garment or part of a garment, hanging from the neck over the back, arms, and shoulders.

    verb — To incite or attract (a bull) to charge a certain direction, by waving a cape.

    verb — To look for, search after.

    noun — A superhero.

    verb — To head or point; to keep a course.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • clap

    noun — The act of striking the palms of the hands, or any two surfaces, together.

    verb — To strike the palms of the hands together, creating a sharp sound.

    noun — (with "the") Gonorrhea.

    noun — The explosive sound of thunder.

    noun — Any loud, sudden, explosive sound made by striking hard surfaces together, or resembling such a sound.

    noun — A slap with the hand, usually in a jovial manner.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • clip

    noun — Something which clips or grasps; a device for attaching one object to another.

    verb — To grip tightly.

    noun — Something which has been clipped from a larger whole:

    verb — To cut, especially with scissors or shears as opposed to a knife etc.

    noun — An unspecified but normally understood as rapid speed or pace.

    noun — An embrace.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • clippable

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • epee

    noun — A sharp-pointed dueling sword with a bell-shaped guard, used (with the end blunted) in sport fencing.

    Appeared in 11 recorded puzzles.

  • epic

    adjective — Momentously heroic; grand in scale or character

    adjective — Extending beyond the usual or ordinary.

    noun — An extended narrative poem in elevated or dignified language, celebrating the feats of a deity, demigod (heroic epic), other legend or traditional hero.

    adjective — Of, or relating to, an epic.

    noun — A series of events considered appropriate to an epic.

    noun — In software development, a large or extended user story.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • ipecac

    noun — The plant ipecacuanha (Psychotria ipecacuanha) or its root.

    noun — Syrup of ipecac, produced from this plant's root, used to induce emesis (vomiting).

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • lapel

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • leap

    noun — The act of leaping or jumping.

    verb — To jump.

    adjective — (calendar) Intercalary, bissextile.

    noun — A basket.

    noun — The distance traversed by a leap or jump.

    noun — A group of leopards.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • pace

    noun — Step.

    verb — To walk back and forth in a small distance.

    adjective — Describing a bowler who bowls fast balls.

    preposition — With all due respect to.

    noun — Easter.

    noun — Way of stepping.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • paella

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • pail

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.

  • palace

    noun — Official residence of a head of state or other dignitary, especially in a monarchical or imperial governmental system.

    verb — To decorate or ornate.

    noun — A large and lavishly ornate residence.

    noun — A large, ornate public building used for entertainment or exhibitions.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • palapa

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 8 recorded puzzles.

  • pale

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • pall

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 8 recorded puzzles.

  • palp

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 8 recorded puzzles.

  • palpable

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • papa

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 19 recorded puzzles.

  • papal

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 8 recorded puzzles.

  • papilla

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 5 recorded puzzles.

  • papillae

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • peace

    noun — A state of tranquility, quiet, and harmony; absence of violence. For instance, a state free from civil disturbance.

    verb — To make peace; to put at peace; to be at peace.

    interjection — Shut up!, silence!; be quiet, be silent.

    noun — A state free of oppressive and unpleasant thoughts and emotions.

    noun — Harmony in personal relations.

    noun — A state free of war, in particular war between different countries.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • peaceable

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • peal

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • pebble

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • peel

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 9 recorded puzzles.

  • peelable

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • peep

    verb — To look, especially through a narrow opening, or while trying not to be seen or noticed.

    noun — A quick look or glimpse, especially a furtive one.

    noun — A quiet sound, particularly one from a baby bird.

    verb — To make a soft, shrill noise like a baby bird.

    noun — A feeble utterance or complaint.

    verb — To begin to appear; to look forth from concealment; to make the first appearance.

    Appeared in 11 recorded puzzles.

  • pellicle

    noun — A thin skin or film.

    noun — A skin or coating of proteins on the surface of meat to be smoked, improving the surface adhesion.

    noun — Cuticle, the hard protective outer layer of certain life forms.

    noun — The skin of a mushroom cap.

    noun — The outermost layer of a mushroom, often used only for a surface that is viscid and easily peels off.

    noun — The growth on the surface of a liquid culture.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • pica

    noun — A disorder characterized by craving and appetite for non-edible substances, such as ice, clay, chalk, dirt, or sand.

    noun — A size of type between small pica and English, standardized as 12-point.

    noun — Any of several small, furry mammals, similar to guinea pigs, but related to rabbits, of the family Ochotonidae, from the mountains of North America and Asia.

    noun — A magpie.

    noun — (usually with qualifier) A font of this size.

    noun — A unit of length equivalent to 12 points, officially 35/83 cm (0.166 in) after 1886 but now 1/6 in.

    Appeared in 4 recorded puzzles.

  • piece

    noun — A part of a larger whole, usually in such a form that it is able to be separated from other parts.

    noun — A single item belonging to a class of similar items

    noun — An artistic creation, such as a painting, sculpture, musical composition, literary work, etc.

    noun — An article published in the press.

    verb — (usually with together) To assemble (something real or figurative).

    noun — A slice or other quantity of bread, eaten on its own; a sandwich or light snack.

    Appeared in 6 recorded puzzles.

  • pile

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 7 recorded puzzles.

  • pill

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 12 recorded puzzles.

  • pipe

    noun — Meanings relating to a hollow conduit.

    noun — Meanings relating to a smoking implement.

    noun — Meanings relating to a wind instrument.

    verb — To convey or transport (something) by means of pipes.

    verb — To play (music) on a pipe instrument, such as a bagpipe or a flute.

    verb — To create or decorate with piping (icing).

    Appeared in 11 recorded puzzles.

  • place

    noun — (physical) An area; somewhere within an area.

    verb — To put (an object or person) in a specific location.

    noun — A location or position in space.

    noun — A particular location in a book or document, particularly the current location of a reader.

    noun — A passage or extract from a book or document.

    noun — A topic.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • plea

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 3 recorded puzzles.

  • pleb

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • plebe

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 2 recorded puzzles.

  • pliable

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

  • plie

    No cached definition. Look it up on Wiktionary.

    Appeared in 7 recorded puzzles.

Hints, no spoilers

Words by first two letters

  • al×1
  • ap×8
  • be×1
  • bi×1
  • bl×2
  • ca×2
  • cl×3
  • ep×2
  • ip×1
  • la×1
  • le×1
  • pa×13
  • pe×8
  • pi×5
  • pl×6

Words by first letter and length

45678910Σ
a ·24·1·2 9
b 22····· 4
c 3··1·1· 5
e 2······ 2
i ··1···· 1
l 11····· 2
p 1654241· 32
Σ 241093522 55

The numbers

Genius today takes 168 points of 241 available. The average answer runs 5.4 letters.

Total points vs. all 453 recorded puzzles
66th percentile
Word count vs. all recorded puzzles
71st percentile

Word lengths, today vs. 20458 recorded answers

424 today34.5% all-time510 today22.8% all-time69 today20.2% all-time73 today12.0% all-time85 today6.3% all-time92 today2.6% all-time102 today1.2% all-time110.3% all-time120.1% all-time130.0% all-time

History

Today's letters, last seen

LetterLast in a puzzleLast as center
a Thursday, February 26, 2026 Monday, February 16, 2026
b Friday, February 20, 2026 Sunday, February 1, 2026
c Thursday, February 26, 2026 Sunday, January 18, 2026
e Thursday, February 19, 2026 Friday, February 6, 2026
i Thursday, February 26, 2026 Thursday, February 26, 2026
l Tuesday, February 24, 2026 Sunday, February 22, 2026
p ● Monday, February 23, 2026 Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Most common answers, all recorded puzzles

  1. noon 47
  2. naan 38
  3. nana 38
  4. onion 33
  5. toot 32
  6. loll 30
  7. mama 29
  8. mamma 29
  9. acacia 28
  10. acai 28
  11. nene 28
  12. imam 26
  13. maim 26
  14. mini 26
  15. minim 26
  16. onto 25
  17. toon 25
  18. cancan 25
  19. canna 25
  20. cocoon 24
  21. lilt 24
  22. till 24
  23. tilt 24
  24. aria 24
  25. mitt 24

Valid words the Bee rejected

Dictionary words the Bee never takes

Legitimate words (per the ENABLE list) that fit the letters but aren't official answers — usually judged too obscure.