A quick crossword is the opposite of a cryptic one. Every clue is a definition, the answer is the word it defines, and there is no hidden second meaning to unpick.
That does not make it trivial. A definition can fit several words, and working out which one the grid wants is the whole puzzle.
How to play Daily Quick Crossword
One new grid each day, with a clue list beside or below it.
- Click a square to select it, click again to change direction.
- Type your answer, or move with the arrow keys.
- Tab moves to the next clue, and clicking a clue jumps to its entry.
Quick crosswords reward a fast first pass. Because there is no wordplay to decode, you either know a clue or you do not, so read the whole list and write in the certainties before working on anything else.
Check and reveal will settle a letter, an answer or the grid.
Tips and strategy
- When a definition fits two words, write in the one whose crossing letters you can test soonest. The grid will tell you which was right faster than you can reason it out.
- Watch the tense and the number in the clue. A quick clue and its answer always agree, so a plural clue means a plural answer.
- Synonyms come in registers. If the clue is formal, the answer usually is too, and that alone rules out half the candidates.
- Short entries are where quick crosswords hide their difficulty, because three letters can be almost anything. Do those last, once both crossings are in.
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Frequently asked questions
What is a quick crossword?
One where every clue is a straight definition rather than cryptic wordplay. The answer is simply the word the clue defines.
Is the Daily Quick Crossword free?
Yes, it plays in the browser with no download and no account.
Is it easier than a cryptic crossword?
For most people, yes. There is no second layer to decode, so the difficulty is vocabulary rather than technique.
Does it update daily?
Yes, a new grid every day.