Focused beam

Archive answer — August 1, 2026

11 Down

Scroll down for the rest of the crossword answers

Clue explained

“LASER” is the published 5-letter fill for 11 Down. Use the crossing letters in the grid below to verify how it fits.

Clue type:
Crossword fill

Wall Street Journal Crossword

This clue’s Saturday, August 1, 2026 appearance

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Crossword solution grid

Select a square to hide or reveal its letter in the 21 by 21 crossword grid.

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Across

62 clues
  1. 1Hacker’s goal
  2. 7“1,000 songs in your pocket” advertiser
  3. 11Hurried flight
  4. 14Coal stratum
  5. 18“Roamin’ in the ___” (1912 Harry Lauder song)
  6. 19Longest river entirely within Switzerland
  7. 20Bonobo, e.g.
  8. 215 for B or 6 for C, e.g.
  9. 22Home of Velázquez’s “Las Meninas”
  10. 23Grumpy or Happy on wash day, maybe?
  11. 26Away from home
  12. 27Hero helped by the divine monkey Hanuman
  13. 29Road trip stops
  14. 30GI thumbing a ride from Fort Bragg to Fort Benning?
  15. 34Capital on the Missouri River
  16. 35The Chariot or the Tower, e.g.
  17. 362013 Joaquin Phoenix movie about an AI crush
  18. 37Take a load off
  19. 38Olympic paddler
  20. 42Inexperienced educator?
  21. 48From the start
  22. 49“___ would like to play” (2006 ad slogan)
  23. 50Frozen Wasser
  24. 51Cheeky, say
  25. 52Boccie-loving Doberman?
  26. 59“Girl, Interrupted” Oscar winner
  27. 60Bygone jet
  28. 61Colleague of Cleese and Idle
  29. 62Tailless amphibian
  30. 63Stared stupidly
  31. 64Musket attachment
  32. 66Chicago’s largest newspaper
  33. 68Impressively tough
  34. 71Part of QED
  35. 73Harden (to)
  36. 74Business with sweaters
  37. 77Wrong
  38. 78“I’ll take whatever beef or pork is available, thanks”?
  39. 81Shankar with a sitar
  40. 82Closely monitored hosp. section
  41. 83Fraction of a joule
  42. 84Kate, to Archie and Lilibet
  43. 85Roy Campanella or Charles Johnson, e.g.?
  44. 89Unspecified
  45. 93___ Lingus
  46. 94Paris accord?
  47. 95Valentine’s gift
  48. 96Evaluate
  49. 100Praise for a former British prime minister?
  50. 106Mobile home?
  51. 108“Very funny!”
  52. 109Still in the game
  53. 110Central American plotting a coup?
  54. 113Took a road trip
  55. 115___ II (Gillette brand)
  56. 116Word after bachelor or mouse
  57. 117Salt or smoke, say
  58. 118Gridiron squads
  59. 119Spanish painter with murals in 30 Rockefeller Plaza’s lobby
  60. 120“___ Beso” (Paul Anka song)
  61. 121“You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me” singer seen as the last part of this puzzle’s theme answers
  62. 122Parched place

Down

80 clues
  1. 1Permit
  2. 2Acknowledge
  3. 3Indigenous West Indian people
  4. 4Flow forth
  5. 5Caesar of comedy
  6. 6Bothersome bunkmates
  7. 7Confession starter
  8. 8Play with, kitten-style
  9. 9Singer Rita
  10. 10German article
  11. 11Focused beamLASER
  12. 12Bldg. divisions
  13. 13Mrs. Lovett’s wares, in “Sweeney Todd”
  14. 14Paris’s ___-Coeur
  15. 15Anesthetic of the past
  16. 16Lend ___ (listen)
  17. 17Code creator
  18. 18Polite fellow
  19. 24Brest brother
  20. 25Indian yogurt-and-cucumber dip
  21. 28Cuts like ___ knife through butter
  22. 31Three-prong Japanese weapon
  23. 32Resurrection figure
  24. 33Tee follower
  25. 37Commotion
  26. 38Line at LaGuardia
  27. 39Yucatán years
  28. 40Semiaquatic salamander
  29. 41Athena’s symbol
  30. 42Bar supply
  31. 43Calling for
  32. 44“Jerry Maguire” director Cameron
  33. 45Skeletal ship
  34. 46Falco of “The Sopranos”
  35. 47Sax piece
  36. 49Aging facility
  37. 53“Count me out”
  38. 54Opposition answers
  39. 55Day-___ paint
  40. 56Pesto bit
  41. 57Bed in a barracks
  42. 58Painter/AIDS activist Keith
  43. 59Singer Jackson
  44. 63Spiritual guide
  45. 64No-frills
  46. 65Pic on a pec
  47. 67Condescending address for a man
  48. 68Fishhook feature
  49. 69Human rights activist Clooney
  50. 70Met headliner
  51. 72“The heavens speed ___ thine enterprise!”: Portia
  52. 74Elisabeth of “Leaving Las Vegas”
  53. 75Slammers
  54. 76Critic’s concern
  55. 78Rent-___
  56. 79Clearance tag abbr.
  57. 80Hall of Famer Ripken
  58. 82Antarctic expanse
  59. 86Casey with a countdown
  60. 87Sky streaker
  61. 88Shade
  62. 89Chris of “Law & Order”
  63. 90Hanging one’s head
  64. 91___ culpa
  65. 92Mount Vernon and Monticello, e.g.
  66. 95Lion, at times
  67. 96Dr. visits
  68. 97Market unit
  69. 98Sub system
  70. 99Put into practice
  71. 100South American barbecue
  72. 101Pointer’s word
  73. 102Garlic unit
  74. 103Personnel head, at times
  75. 104Happening
  76. 105Cincinnati team
  77. 107Cries of insight
  78. 111Roman 300
  79. 112Bewildered response
  80. 114Bullring cry

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. Hacker’s goal

    Answer: ACCESS

  2. 7. “1,000 songs in your pocket” advertiser

    Answer: IPOD

  3. 11. Hurried flight

    Answer: LAM

  4. 14. Coal stratum

    Answer: SEAM

  5. 18. “Roamin’ in the ___” (1912 Harry Lauder song)

    Answer: GLOAMIN

  6. 19. Longest river entirely within Switzerland

    Answer: AARE

  7. 20. Bonobo, e.g.

    Answer: APE

  8. 21. 5 for B or 6 for C, e.g.

    Answer: ATNO

  9. 22. Home of Velázquez’s “Las Meninas”

    Answer: ELPRADO

  10. 23. Grumpy or Happy on wash day, maybe?

    Answer: DWARFSTARCHER

  11. 26. Away from home

    Answer: NOTIN

  12. 27. Hero helped by the divine monkey Hanuman

    Answer: RAMA

  13. 29. Road trip stops

    Answer: RESTAREAS

  14. 30. GI thumbing a ride from Fort Bragg to Fort Benning?

    Answer: TWOBASEHITCHER

  15. 34. Capital on the Missouri River

    Answer: PIERRE

  16. 35. The Chariot or the Tower, e.g.

    Answer: TAROT

  17. 36. 2013 Joaquin Phoenix movie about an AI crush

    Answer: HER

  18. 37. Take a load off

    Answer: SIT

  19. 38. Olympic paddler

    Answer: CANOEIST

  20. 42. Inexperienced educator?

    Answer: GREENTEACHER

  21. 48. From the start

    Answer: ANEW

  22. 49. “___ would like to play” (2006 ad slogan)

    Answer: WII

  23. 50. Frozen Wasser

    Answer: EIS

  24. 51. Cheeky, say

    Answer: RUDE

  25. 52. Boccie-loving Doberman?

    Answer: BOWLINGPINSCHER

  26. 59. “Girl, Interrupted” Oscar winner

    Answer: JOLIE

  27. 60. Bygone jet

    Answer: SST

  28. 61. Colleague of Cleese and Idle

    Answer: PALIN

  29. 62. Tailless amphibian

    Answer: TOAD

  30. 63. Stared stupidly

    Answer: GAWKED

  31. 64. Musket attachment

    Answer: BAYONET

  32. 66. Chicago’s largest newspaper

    Answer: TRIBUNE

  33. 68. Impressively tough

    Answer: BADASS

  34. 71. Part of QED

    Answer: ERAT

  35. 73. Harden (to)

    Answer: INURE

  36. 74. Business with sweaters

    Answer: SPA

  37. 77. Wrong

    Answer: AMISS

  38. 78. “I’ll take whatever beef or pork is available, thanks”?

    Answer: ANYTHINGBUTCHER

  39. 81. Shankar with a sitar

    Answer: RAVI

  40. 82. Closely monitored hosp. section

    Answer: ICU

  41. 83. Fraction of a joule

    Answer: ERG

  42. 84. Kate, to Archie and Lilibet

    Answer: AUNT

  43. 85. Roy Campanella or Charles Johnson, e.g.?

    Answer: BLACKCATCHER

  44. 89. Unspecified

    Answer: NAMELESS

  45. 93. ___ Lingus

    Answer: AER

  46. 94. Paris accord?

    Answer: OUI

  47. 95. Valentine’s gift

    Answer: ROSES

  48. 96. Evaluate

    Answer: ASSESS

  49. 100. Praise for a former British prime minister?

    Answer: AMENTOTHATCHER

  50. 106. Mobile home?

    Answer: PHONECASE

  51. 108. “Very funny!”

    Answer: HAHA

  52. 109. Still in the game

    Answer: ALIVE

  53. 110. Central American plotting a coup?

    Answer: PANAMAHATCHER

  54. 113. Took a road trip

    Answer: MOTORED

  55. 115. ___ II (Gillette brand)

    Answer: TRAC

  56. 116. Word after bachelor or mouse

    Answer: PAD

  57. 117. Salt or smoke, say

    Answer: CURE

  58. 118. Gridiron squads

    Answer: ELEVENS

  59. 119. Spanish painter with murals in 30 Rockefeller Plaza’s lobby

    Answer: SERT

  60. 120. “___ Beso” (Paul Anka song)

    Answer: ESO

  61. 121. “You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me” singer seen as the last part of this puzzle’s theme answers

    Answer: CHER

  62. 122. Parched place

    Answer: DESERT

Down

  1. 1. Permit

    Answer: ALLOW

  2. 2. Acknowledge

    Answer: COPTO

  3. 3. Indigenous West Indian people

    Answer: CARIB

  4. 4. Flow forth

    Answer: EMANATE

  5. 5. Caesar of comedy

    Answer: SID

  6. 6. Bothersome bunkmates

    Answer: SNORERS

  7. 7. Confession starter

    Answer: IADMIT

  8. 8. Play with, kitten-style

    Answer: PAWAT

  9. 9. Singer Rita

    Answer: ORA

  10. 10. German article

    Answer: DER

  11. 11. Focused beam

    Answer: LASER

  12. 12. Bldg. divisions

    Answer: APTS

  13. 13. Mrs. Lovett’s wares, in “Sweeney Todd”

    Answer: MEATPIES

  14. 14. Paris’s ___-Coeur

    Answer: SACRE

  15. 15. Anesthetic of the past

    Answer: ETHER

  16. 16. Lend ___ (listen)

    Answer: ANEAR

  17. 17. Code creator

    Answer: MORSE

  18. 18. Polite fellow

    Answer: GENT

  19. 24. Brest brother

    Answer: FRERE

  20. 25. Indian yogurt-and-cucumber dip

    Answer: RAITA

  21. 28. Cuts like ___ knife through butter

    Answer: AHOT

  22. 31. Three-prong Japanese weapon

    Answer: SAI

  23. 32. Resurrection figure

    Answer: CHRIST

  24. 33. Tee follower

    Answer: HEE

  25. 37. Commotion

    Answer: STIR

  26. 38. Line at LaGuardia

    Answer: CABS

  27. 39. Yucatán years

    Answer: ANOS

  28. 40. Semiaquatic salamander

    Answer: NEWT

  29. 41. Athena’s symbol

    Answer: OWL

  30. 42. Bar supply

    Answer: GIN

  31. 43. Calling for

    Answer: NEEDING

  32. 44. “Jerry Maguire” director Cameron

    Answer: CROWE

  33. 45. Skeletal ship

    Answer: HULK

  34. 46. Falco of “The Sopranos”

    Answer: EDIE

  35. 47. Sax piece

    Answer: REED

  36. 49. Aging facility

    Answer: WINERY

  37. 53. “Count me out”

    Answer: IPASS

  38. 54. Opposition answers

    Answer: NAYS

  39. 55. Day-___ paint

    Answer: GLO

  40. 56. Pesto bit

    Answer: PINENUT

  41. 57. Bed in a barracks

    Answer: COT

  42. 58. Painter/AIDS activist Keith

    Answer: HARING

  43. 59. Singer Jackson

    Answer: JANET

  44. 63. Spiritual guide

    Answer: GURU

  45. 64. No-frills

    Answer: BASIC

  46. 65. Pic on a pec

    Answer: TAT

  47. 67. Condescending address for a man

    Answer: BUB

  48. 68. Fishhook feature

    Answer: BARB

  49. 69. Human rights activist Clooney

    Answer: AMAL

  50. 70. Met headliner

    Answer: DIVA

  51. 72. “The heavens speed ___ thine enterprise!”: Portia

    Answer: THEEIN

  52. 74. Elisabeth of “Leaving Las Vegas”

    Answer: SHUE

  53. 75. Slammers

    Answer: PENS

  54. 76. Critic’s concern

    Answer: ARTS

  55. 78. Rent-___

    Answer: ACAR

  56. 79. Clearance tag abbr.

    Answer: IRR

  57. 80. Hall of Famer Ripken

    Answer: CAL

  58. 82. Antarctic expanse

    Answer: ICESCAPE

  59. 86. Casey with a countdown

    Answer: KASEM

  60. 87. Sky streaker

    Answer: COMET

  61. 88. Shade

    Answer: HUE

  62. 89. Chris of “Law & Order”

    Answer: NOTH

  63. 90. Hanging one’s head

    Answer: ASHAMED

  64. 91. ___ culpa

    Answer: MEA

  65. 92. Mount Vernon and Monticello, e.g.

    Answer: ESTATES

  66. 95. Lion, at times

    Answer: ROARER

  67. 96. Dr. visits

    Answer: APPTS

  68. 97. Market unit

    Answer: SHARE

  69. 98. Sub system

    Answer: SONAR

  70. 99. Put into practice

    Answer: ENACT

  71. 100. South American barbecue

    Answer: ASADO

  72. 101. Pointer’s word

    Answer: THERE

  73. 102. Garlic unit

    Answer: CLOVE

  74. 103. Personnel head, at times

    Answer: HIRER

  75. 104. Happening

    Answer: EVENT

  76. 105. Cincinnati team

    Answer: REDS

  77. 107. Cries of insight

    Answer: AHAS

  78. 111. Roman 300

    Answer: CCC

  79. 112. Bewildered response

    Answer: HUH

  80. 114. Bullring cry

    Answer: OLE

The answer to “Focused beam” in the Wall Street Journal Crossword is LASER — a 5-letter word. It appears in our available data for August 1, 2026 at 11-Down. Below you can reveal the fill one letter at a time, check the full puzzle, and open every related clue page.

“Focused beam” answer

LASER(5 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 LASER fit?

LASER is the published 5-letter answer at 11-Down. The highlighted path in the puzzle shows exactly where the entry sits.

When else has “Focused 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 “Focused beam”?

The answer is LASER.

How many letters are in the answer?

5 letters: LASER.

When did this clue appear?

It appears in the Wall Street Journal Crossword for August 1, 2026 at 11-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 Wall Street Journal answers page for August 1, 2026 for the full grid and every clue.

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