Picks up the pace

Archive answer — August 26, 2026

24 Down

Scroll down for the rest of the crossword answers

Clue explained

“HASTENS” is the published 7-letter fill for 24 Down. Use the crossing letters in the grid below to verify how it fits.

Clue type:
Crossword fill

Washington Post Crossword

This clue’s Wednesday, August 26, 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

38 clues
  1. 1Emerged
  2. 6Korean-American grocery store
  3. 11Dim sum brew
  4. 14Little solo break
  5. 15Camel's watering hole
  6. 16"That'll leave a mark!"
  7. 17Programming problem
  8. 19Scand. country
  9. 20Proboscis
  10. 21Feature of Canada's flag
  11. 22Nove minus uno
  12. 23Suspicious
  13. 25Enclosed rhyme scheme in Petrarchan sonnets
  14. 27Turkish peak
  15. 30Clinton secretary of state
  16. 34Olympic gymnast with five moves named for her
  17. 352025 Best Picture Oscar winner
  18. 36Letters of liability?
  19. 37Dongle, e.g.
  20. 39Synagogue singers
  21. 41"Exactly right!"
  22. 42__ Sports Bureau: stats giant
  23. 44"Punch-__ Love": Paul Thomas Anderson film
  24. 45Bible Belt state
  25. 47Shelters
  26. 48Altar site
  27. 49Change
  28. 51Prometheus's gift
  29. 53"See ... "
  30. 54Yellow brick road terrier
  31. 58Aussie hopper
  32. 59"Everyone in the water!," or when parsed differently, what can be found in each set of circled words
  33. 62Nocturnal bird of prey
  34. 63__ Gras
  35. 64Unlike the rest
  36. 65Young lady
  37. 66Clique
  38. 67Vociferous

Down

40 clues
  1. 1"Exactly right!"
  2. 2City north of Carson City
  3. 3Probabilities
  4. 4Service promoter
  5. 5Cyclone center
  6. 6Swindled
  7. 7__ bear: Southeast Asian forest dweller
  8. 8Since
  9. 9Animated film about Spix's macaws
  10. 10Baker's shortening?
  11. 11Like laughter, sometimes
  12. 1262-Across call
  13. 13Curly hairstyle
  14. 18Bed frame board
  15. 22Japanese sash
  16. 24Picks up the paceHASTENS
  17. 25Pokémon that ultimately evolves into Alakazam
  18. 26Jason's "Beverly Hills, 90210" role
  19. 27Modest Muslim robe
  20. 28Bus passenger
  21. 29Sushi bite topped with salmon
  22. 31Hairstyle that may begin with comb coils
  23. 32"Stormy Weather" singer Lena
  24. 33Elephant pair
  25. 35Operatic solo
  26. 38If-then-__ statement
  27. 40Leaves in the care of
  28. 43Climbs
  29. 46Big galoot
  30. 47Big Island county seat
  31. 50Throwback hit
  32. 51Amphibious hopper
  33. 52Corn Belt state
  34. 53Major conflicts
  35. 55"Didn't see you there!"
  36. 56Knots
  37. 57The Grand Ole __
  38. 59Metal box?
  39. 60Dim sum bun
  40. 61Persona __ grata

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. Emerged

    Answer: AROSE

  2. 6. Korean-American grocery store

    Answer: HMART

  3. 11. Dim sum brew

    Answer: CHA

  4. 14. Little solo break

    Answer: MEDAY

  5. 15. Camel's watering hole

    Answer: OASIS

  6. 16. "That'll leave a mark!"

    Answer: OOF

  7. 17. Programming problem

    Answer: ENDLESSLOOP

  8. 19. Scand. country

    Answer: NOR

  9. 20. Proboscis

    Answer: NOSE

  10. 21. Feature of Canada's flag

    Answer: LEAF

  11. 22. Nove minus uno

    Answer: OTTO

  12. 23. Suspicious

    Answer: SHADY

  13. 25. Enclosed rhyme scheme in Petrarchan sonnets

    Answer: ABBA

  14. 27. Turkish peak

    Answer: ARARAT

  15. 30. Clinton secretary of state

    Answer: ALBRIGHT

  16. 34. Olympic gymnast with five moves named for her

    Answer: BILES

  17. 35. 2025 Best Picture Oscar winner

    Answer: ANORA

  18. 36. Letters of liability?

    Answer: IOU

  19. 37. Dongle, e.g.

    Answer: ADAPTER

  20. 39. Synagogue singers

    Answer: CANTORS

  21. 41. "Exactly right!"

    Answer: YES

  22. 42. __ Sports Bureau: stats giant

    Answer: ELIAS

  23. 44. "Punch-__ Love": Paul Thomas Anderson film

    Answer: DRUNK

  24. 45. Bible Belt state

    Answer: ARKANSAS

  25. 47. Shelters

    Answer: HOUSES

  26. 48. Altar site

    Answer: APSE

  27. 49. Change

    Answer: COINS

  28. 51. Prometheus's gift

    Answer: FIRE

  29. 53. "See ... "

    Answer: WELL

  30. 54. Yellow brick road terrier

    Answer: TOTO

  31. 58. Aussie hopper

    Answer: ROO

  32. 59. "Everyone in the water!," or when parsed differently, what can be found in each set of circled words

    Answer: ABANDONSHIP

  33. 62. Nocturnal bird of prey

    Answer: OWL

  34. 63. __ Gras

    Answer: MARDI

  35. 64. Unlike the rest

    Answer: OTHER

  36. 65. Young lady

    Answer: GAL

  37. 66. Clique

    Answer: POSSE

  38. 67. Vociferous

    Answer: NOISY

Down

  1. 2. City north of Carson City

    Answer: RENO

  2. 3. Probabilities

    Answer: ODDS

  3. 4. Service promoter

    Answer: SALESREP

  4. 5. Cyclone center

    Answer: EYE

  5. 6. Swindled

    Answer: HOSED

  6. 7. __ bear: Southeast Asian forest dweller

    Answer: MALAYAN

  7. 8. Since

    Answer: ASOF

  8. 9. Animated film about Spix's macaws

    Answer: RIO

  9. 10. Baker's shortening?

    Answer: TSP

  10. 11. Like laughter, sometimes

    Answer: CONTAGIOUS

  11. 12. 62-Across call

    Answer: HOOT

  12. 13. Curly hairstyle

    Answer: AFRO

  13. 18. Bed frame board

    Answer: SLAT

  14. 22. Japanese sash

    Answer: OBI

  15. 24. Picks up the pace

    Answer: HASTENS

  16. 25. Pokémon that ultimately evolves into Alakazam

    Answer: ABRA

  17. 26. Jason's "Beverly Hills, 90210" role

    Answer: BRANDON

  18. 27. Modest Muslim robe

    Answer: ABAYA

  19. 28. Bus passenger

    Answer: RIDER

  20. 29. Sushi bite topped with salmon

    Answer: ALASKAROLL

  21. 31. Hairstyle that may begin with comb coils

    Answer: LOCS

  22. 32. "Stormy Weather" singer Lena

    Answer: HORNE

  23. 33. Elephant pair

    Answer: TUSKS

  24. 35. Operatic solo

    Answer: ARIA

  25. 38. If-then-__ statement

    Answer: ELSE

  26. 40. Leaves in the care of

    Answer: TRUSTSTO

  27. 43. Climbs

    Answer: ASCENDS

  28. 46. Big galoot

    Answer: APE

  29. 47. Big Island county seat

    Answer: HILO

  30. 50. Throwback hit

    Answer: OLDIE

  31. 51. Amphibious hopper

    Answer: FROG

  32. 52. Corn Belt state

    Answer: IOWA

  33. 53. Major conflicts

    Answer: WARS

  34. 55. "Didn't see you there!"

    Answer: OHHI

  35. 56. Knots

    Answer: TIES

  36. 57. The Grand Ole __

    Answer: OPRY

  37. 59. Metal box?

    Answer: AMP

  38. 60. Dim sum bun

    Answer: BAO

  39. 61. Persona __ grata

    Answer: NON

The answer to “Picks up the pace” in the Washington Post Crossword is HASTENS — a 7-letter word. It appears in our available data for August 26, 2026 at 24-Down. Below you can reveal the fill one letter at a time, check the full puzzle, and open every related clue page.

“Picks up the pace” answer

HASTENS(7 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 HASTENS fit?

HASTENS is the published 7-letter answer at 24-Down. The highlighted path in the puzzle shows exactly where the entry sits.

When else has “Picks up the pace” 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 “Picks up the pace”?

The answer is HASTENS.

How many letters are in the answer?

7 letters: HASTENS.

When did this clue appear?

It appears in the Washington Post Crossword for August 26, 2026 at 24-Down.

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 Washington Post answers page for August 26, 2026 for the full grid and every clue.

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