Drag across letters to find a word — across, down, or diagonally.
On a phone, press the first letter and slide to the last — the highlight snaps to a straight line, so you don't have to be precise.
How to play Word Search
Word Search is the relaxing letter-grid puzzle where hidden words wait to be found among a jumble of letters. Pick a theme, then track down every word on the list — reading across, down, or diagonally. This free browser version has eight themed packs, three grid sizes, hints, and a timer that saves your best solves. No downloads, no signup.
Word Search rules
- Find the listed words. Every word in the checklist is hidden somewhere in the grid in a straight line.
- Select a word. Press on its first letter and drag to its last letter, then release. The highlight snaps to a straight line, so a rough swipe still reads cleanly.
- Directions depend on size. Small grids hide words across and down only; Medium adds diagonals; Large adds backwards words too.
- Win. Cross off every word on the list to solve the puzzle. There's no way to lose — take your time.
Word Search tips and strategy
- Hunt first letters. Scan the grid for the starting letter of each word, then check the lines radiating out from it.
- Look for rare letters. Words with Q, X, Z or J are the fastest to spot — there are few decoys to confuse them.
- Sweep row by row. A steady left-to-right, top-to-bottom scan beats darting around at random.
- Check diagonals last. They're the hardest for the eye to catch — on Large grids, deliberately look up-left and down-right too.
- Use a hint when stuck. The hint flashes a remaining word's first letter to get you unstuck without giving it away.
Themed word search puzzles
Every puzzle is built from a themed pack, so you can play to your interests and learn a little vocabulary along the way:
- Animals — tiger, zebra, panda, otter, moose, camel, rabbit, monkey, walrus, giraffe.
- Space — mars, moon, comet, orbit, venus, solar, galaxy, rocket, meteor, nebula.
- Ocean — crab, reef, wave, shark, whale, coral, squid, oyster, dolphin, octopus.
- Food — rice, bread, mango, lemon, onion, pasta, honey, cheese, tomato, banana.
- Body, Weather, Music, and Jobs — four more packs to keep every grid fresh.
Easy, medium, and hard grids
Small (8×8) hides a handful of short words across and down only — great for kids and quick rounds. Medium (11×11) is the balanced default and adds diagonals. Large (14×14) packs in more words and adds backwards runs for a real challenge. Your fastest time for each theme-and-size combination is saved automatically.
Frequently asked
How do I play Word Search? Find every word on the list inside the letter grid. Press a word's first letter and drag to its last letter — across, down, or diagonally — then release to cross it off. Clear the list to win.
Can words go backwards or diagonally? Yes, depending on the grid size. Small is across and down only, Medium adds diagonals, and Large adds backwards words.
Is Word Search free? Yes — no signup, no downloads, no installs.
Are my best times saved? Yes — your fastest solve for each theme and size is stored locally in your browser.
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