NYT Crossword

Beam

Archive answer — July 28, 2026

54 Across

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Clue explained

“RAY” is the published 3-letter fill for 54 Across. Use the crossing letters in the grid below to verify how it fits.

Clue type:
Crossword fill

NYT Crossword

This clue’s Tuesday, July 28, 2026 appearance

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Crossword solution grid

Select a square to hide or reveal its letter in the 15 by 15 crossword grid.

Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.

Across

36 clues
  1. 1Insolence
  2. 5Scott ___, author of "Island of the Blue Dolphins"
  3. 10Be in need of ibuprofen, say
  4. 14Word with cap or socks
  5. 15Diet that eschews processed food
  6. 16In a minute
  7. 17With 58-Across, dad-joke response to the answers for each of this puzzle's starred clues
  8. 19Massage gun target
  9. 20Wyoming mountain range
  10. 21"Out with ya now!"
  11. 23Tax pro
  12. 24Primer mes del año
  13. 25*Essential oil with a musky scent
  14. 28Myrmecology subject
  15. 29Bonfire remains
  16. 30Concerning hearing
  17. 31*Home of the lowest town-level ZIP code in the continental U.S. (01001)
  18. 36Ruminant's mouthful
  19. 37Secondary social media account
  20. 38*"Until next time!"
  21. 45United
  22. 47Preposition in "The Star-Spangled Banner"
  23. 48Palindromic kitchen brand
  24. 49*Academy Award, e.g.
  25. 51___ Taco (ice cream treat)
  26. 53The "S" of macOS: Abbr.
  27. 54BeamRAY
  28. 55Bubble tea bubbles
  29. 56Some first responders, for short
  30. 58See 17-Across
  31. 61Director Johnson of the "Knives Out" movies
  32. 62Once more
  33. 63Spot to huddle under during a rainstorm
  34. 64Rat (on)
  35. 65Packs (down), as tobacco in a pipe
  36. 66Iditarod conveyance

Down

38 clues
  1. 1Sporting group at a cold-weather school
  2. 2Insect's feeler
  3. 3Six-line poems
  4. 4Honorific for many Spanish teachers
  5. 5Finishes deliberating
  6. 6"Well, lah-di-___!"
  7. 7Name that's an anagram of an untruth
  8. 8Units in horse racing
  9. 9Skill needed to solve a sudoku puzzle
  10. 10Query
  11. 11Plays the yes-man
  12. 12Muss and fuss
  13. 13Involve
  14. 181969 "bed-in" participant
  15. 22"___ be the day!"
  16. 25Expression of disgust that sounds like a family member
  17. 26Sun Devils' sch.
  18. 27"Straight ___ Compton" (1989 N.W.A album)
  19. 32Triflingly little
  20. 33Artistic visionary
  21. 34Org. mentioned in many zombie movies
  22. 35Evian, Perrier or Badoit
  23. 38Along a gulf, say
  24. 39Sweaty stretching session
  25. 40Up to this point
  26. 41Mined find
  27. 42"Oof, painfully true"
  28. 43Part of a country located entirely within another country
  29. 44Landed for the night
  30. 45Claim to be true
  31. 46Hinder
  32. 50Bother, as one's conscience
  33. 51Letter that can take a cedilla
  34. 52Puts through a harsh initiation
  35. 55Items sometimes chained to a desk
  36. 57Its alums include Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, in brief
  37. 59Rock singer ___ Fender
  38. 60Alcoholic equivalent of a fun-size candy bar

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Every clue links to a dedicated answer page. Use the list below to scan the complete fill without opening the interactive board.

Across

  1. 1. Insolence

    Answer: SASS

  2. 5. Scott ___, author of "Island of the Blue Dolphins"

    Answer: ODELL

  3. 10. Be in need of ibuprofen, say

    Answer: ACHE

  4. 14. Word with cap or socks

    Answer: KNEE

  5. 15. Diet that eschews processed food

    Answer: PALEO

  6. 16. In a minute

    Answer: SOON

  7. 17. With 58-Across, dad-joke response to the answers for each of this puzzle's starred clues

    Answer: ITSNOTHING

  8. 19. Massage gun target

    Answer: KNOT

  9. 20. Wyoming mountain range

    Answer: TETONS

  10. 21. "Out with ya now!"

    Answer: GIT

  11. 23. Tax pro

    Answer: CPA

  12. 24. Primer mes del año

    Answer: ENERO

  13. 25. *Essential oil with a musky scent

    Answer: PATCHOULI

  14. 28. Myrmecology subject

    Answer: ANT

  15. 29. Bonfire remains

    Answer: ASH

  16. 30. Concerning hearing

    Answer: AURAL

  17. 31. *Home of the lowest town-level ZIP code in the continental U.S. (01001)

    Answer: MASSACHUSETTS

  18. 36. Ruminant's mouthful

    Answer: CUD

  19. 37. Secondary social media account

    Answer: ALT

  20. 38. *"Until next time!"

    Answer: CATCHYOULATER

  21. 45. United

    Answer: ASONE

  22. 47. Preposition in "The Star-Spangled Banner"

    Answer: OER

  23. 48. Palindromic kitchen brand

    Answer: OXO

  24. 49. *Academy Award, e.g.

    Answer: STATUETTE

  25. 51. ___ Taco (ice cream treat)

    Answer: CHOCO

  26. 53. The "S" of macOS: Abbr.

    Answer: SYS

  27. 54. Beam

    Answer: RAY

  28. 55. Bubble tea bubbles

    Answer: PEARLS

  29. 56. Some first responders, for short

    Answer: EMTS

  30. 58. See 17-Across

    Answer: TOSNEEZEAT

  31. 61. Director Johnson of the "Knives Out" movies

    Answer: RIAN

  32. 62. Once more

    Answer: AGAIN

  33. 63. Spot to huddle under during a rainstorm

    Answer: EAVE

  34. 64. Rat (on)

    Answer: TELL

  35. 65. Packs (down), as tobacco in a pipe

    Answer: TAMPS

  36. 66. Iditarod conveyance

    Answer: SLED

Down

  1. 1. Sporting group at a cold-weather school

    Answer: SKITEAM

  2. 2. Insect's feeler

    Answer: ANTENNA

  3. 3. Six-line poems

    Answer: SESTETS

  4. 4. Honorific for many Spanish teachers

    Answer: SENOR

  5. 5. Finishes deliberating

    Answer: OPTS

  6. 6. "Well, lah-di-___!"

    Answer: DAH

  7. 7. Name that's an anagram of an untruth

    Answer: ELI

  8. 8. Units in horse racing

    Answer: LENGTHS

  9. 9. Skill needed to solve a sudoku puzzle

    Answer: LOGIC

  10. 10. Query

    Answer: ASK

  11. 11. Plays the yes-man

    Answer: CONCURS

  12. 12. Muss and fuss

    Answer: HOOPLA

  13. 13. Involve

    Answer: ENTAIL

  14. 18. 1969 "bed-in" participant

    Answer: ONO

  15. 22. "___ be the day!"

    Answer: THATLL

  16. 25. Expression of disgust that sounds like a family member

    Answer: PAH

  17. 26. Sun Devils' sch.

    Answer: ASU

  18. 27. "Straight ___ Compton" (1989 N.W.A album)

    Answer: OUTTA

  19. 32. Triflingly little

    Answer: SCANT

  20. 33. Artistic visionary

    Answer: AUTEUR

  21. 34. Org. mentioned in many zombie movies

    Answer: CDC

  22. 35. Evian, Perrier or Badoit

    Answer: EAU

  23. 38. Along a gulf, say

    Answer: COASTAL

  24. 39. Sweaty stretching session

    Answer: HOTYOGA

  25. 40. Up to this point

    Answer: YET

  26. 41. Mined find

    Answer: ORE

  27. 42. "Oof, painfully true"

    Answer: TOOREAL

  28. 43. Part of a country located entirely within another country

    Answer: EXCLAVE

  29. 44. Landed for the night

    Answer: ROOSTED

  30. 45. Claim to be true

    Answer: ASSERT

  31. 46. Hinder

    Answer: STYMIE

  32. 50. Bother, as one's conscience

    Answer: EATAT

  33. 51. Letter that can take a cedilla

    Answer: CEE

  34. 52. Puts through a harsh initiation

    Answer: HAZES

  35. 55. Items sometimes chained to a desk

    Answer: PENS

  36. 57. Its alums include Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, in brief

    Answer: SNL

  37. 59. Rock singer ___ Fender

    Answer: SAM

  38. 60. Alcoholic equivalent of a fun-size candy bar

    Answer: NIP

The answer to “Beam” in the NYT Crossword is RAY — a 3-letter word. It appears in our available data for July 28, 2026 at 54-Across. Below you can reveal the fill one letter at a time, check the full puzzle, and open every related clue page.

“Beam” answer

RAY(3 letters)

Prefer a nudge first? Use the letter tiles above to hide and reveal individual characters, or use the focused grid to confirm the crossing letters.

Why does RAY fit?

RAY is the published 3-letter answer at 54-Across. The highlighted path in the puzzle shows exactly where the entry sits.

When else has “Beam” appeared?

The same clue can return on another date, sometimes with a different fill. These are the matching appearances in the recent published records available through the Answers API.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Beam”?

The answer is RAY.

How many letters are in the answer?

3 letters: RAY.

When did this clue appear?

It appears in the NYT Crossword for July 28, 2026 at 54-Across.

Can this clue have a different answer?

Yes. Crossword clues may be reused with a different fill depending on the grid. Recent matching appearances are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of this day’s answers?

Open the NYT answers page for July 28, 2026 for the full grid and every clue.

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