Words to Find
How to Play
GoalFind every hidden word listed beside the grid. Words are written in a straight line and can run in any direction — including backwards.
Controls- Click and drag across letters in a straight line to select a word.
- Prefer tapping? Click letters one at a time to build a selection, then click the last letter again to confirm.
- Backspace removes the last letter from your tap selection.
DifficultyEasy = 8×8 grid, 6 words · Medium = 10×10, 9 words · Hard = 12×12, 12 words · Expert = 15×15, 15 words.
Tips- Words run horizontally, vertically, and diagonally — and may be spelled in reverse.
- Scan for common prefixes and suffixes (-ING, -ED, -TION) to anchor a word.
- Found words are struck off the list automatically.
- Each Hint reveals the first letter of one remaining word (3 hints per game).
About Word Search History, Strategy & Tips
A word search is a grid of apparently random letters with a list of hidden words printed beside it. Your job is to find each word in the grid — they run in straight lines horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, and may be spelled forwards or backwards.
It is one of the most accessible puzzle types in the world: no special knowledge or skill is needed, just a sharp eye and a little patience. That makes it a perfect warm-up or a relaxing wind-down.
The History of Word Search
The word search was invented in 1968 by Norman E. Gibat, a graphic designer in Norman, Oklahoma. He published the first puzzles in the Selenby Digest, a free advertising flyer distributed to local grocery stores. Readers loved them, and within months schoolteachers were photocopying the puzzles for their classrooms.
The format spread quickly to newspapers, magazines, and dedicated puzzle books. Variations followed — wonderwords with a hidden message from leftover letters, themed word searches, and timed competition versions. By the 1980s the word search was one of the most recognised puzzle types on the planet, and its appeal has not faded: the simple pleasure of spotting a hidden word is timeless.
Solving Strategies
Scan for the rarest letter
Instead of scanning the whole grid randomly, pick the least common letter in your target word — Q, X, Z, J, K are ideal — and sweep the grid for it. There will be very few matches to check, so you can confirm or rule out each one quickly.
Anchor with prefixes and suffixes
Word endings like -ING, -ED, -TION, -LY, -ER and beginnings like RE-, UN-, IN- are easy to spot in a sea of letters. Find the suffix first, then trace backwards to confirm the whole word.
Check all eight directions
Words can run right, left, up, down, and along both diagonals — and may be spelled forwards or backwards. When you find a promising starting letter, trace in every direction from it before moving on.
Work one word at a time
Glance at a single word on the list, sweep for its first (or rarest) letter, then trace. Trying to find several words at once scatters your attention; focusing on one word is faster.
Word Search FAQ
Can words overlap or share letters?
Yes — words frequently cross or share letters, especially in denser grids.
Are words always left-to-right?
No. They can run in any of eight directions, including backwards and along diagonals.
How does difficulty change?
Larger grids, more words, and less common vocabulary at higher difficulty levels.
What is the best word to start with?
Begin with the longest or most unusual word on the list — its rare letters make it the easiest to spot.