About Word Search
Word Search is a free online word search puzzle game with a brand-new daily puzzle, three difficulty levels and more than 60 hand-picked themes, from Dinosaurs and Outer Space to Coffee Shop, Dog Breeds and World Capitals. Every grid is freshly generated, so you'll never run out of puzzles.
The idea is simple: a list of words is hidden in a square grid of letters, and your job is to find them all. Drag your finger or mouse across a word and a colored highlight snaps into place. Each word you find stays marked in its own pastel color, and the list crosses it off so you always know what's left.
Play the Daily Word Search to solve the same puzzle as everyone else and compare times on the leaderboard, or pick Easy, Medium or Hard and choose a theme you love. Your progress is saved automatically, so you can close the tab and pick up exactly where you left off.
How to play Word Search
- 1
Pick a puzzle
Start with Daily for today's shared puzzle, or choose Easy (10×10, 8 words), Medium (13×13, 12 words) or Hard (15×15, 16 words). In practice modes you can pick a theme or leave it on Random theme.
- 2
Scan the grid
Every word in the list is hidden in a straight line: across, down or diagonally, and on Hard and Daily puzzles also backwards and upward. Words can cross and share letters with each other.
- 3
Select a word
Drag from the first letter to the last letter. The highlight snaps to the nearest straight direction, so you don't need perfect aim. Prefer not to drag? Tap the first letter, then tap the last one. On a keyboard, move with the arrow keys and press Enter on each end.
- 4
Clear the list
Correct words lock in with a color and are crossed off the list. The timer starts on your first move and stops the moment you find the last word. Your time, average time per word and hints used appear on the results screen.
Controls
| Input | Action |
|---|---|
| Drag (mouse or finger) | Select a word from its first letter to its last |
| Tap, then tap | Mark the first letter, then the last letter of a word |
| Arrow keys + Enter | Move the cursor and mark the first and last letters |
| Esc | Cancel a half-finished selection |
| H | Use a hint (flashes the first letter of a word) |
| P | Pause or resume the timer |
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Word Search tips and strategy
Hunt for rare letters first
Letters like Q, Z, X, J, K and V show up far less often than vowels. If a word contains one, find that letter in the grid first. There are usually only a few places the word can start.
Search for the first two letters together
Instead of looking for one letter, look for a pair, such as "PL" for PLANET. Your eyes pick up two-letter combinations faster, and it rules out most false starts right away.
Sweep in rows, then columns
Scanning randomly wastes time. Run your eyes along each row, then each column, then the diagonals. On Easy puzzles words only go across and down, so two sweeps will find everything.
Start with the longest words
Long words cover more of the grid and are easier to spot because they contain distinctive letter patterns. Once they're highlighted, the remaining short words have fewer places to hide.
Remember that words can run backwards
On Hard and Daily puzzles a word may read right to left or bottom to top. If you can't find OTTER, try looking for RETTO. Double letters like the TT also make great landmarks.
Use hints wisely
A hint flashes the first letter of a word you haven't found. It's perfect when you're stuck on the last one or two words, but hinted puzzles don't count toward personal bests or the daily leaderboard.
Let the theme guide you
Themes tell you what kind of words to expect. On a Weather grid, a lone Z probably belongs to BLIZZARD or DRIZZLE. Guessing the word first makes it much faster to spot.
How the Daily Word Search works
A new daily word search unlocks every day at midnight in your time zone. Everyone gets the same 12×12 grid, the same theme and the same 12 words, with words hidden in all eight directions. Seasonal themes like Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas show up in the right months.
Your time goes on the daily leaderboard (as long as you don't use hints), and finishing keeps your daily streak alive. When you're done, share a spoiler-free result: each square shows how quickly you found each word, so friends can compare without seeing the answers. Then keep going with unlimited practice puzzles.
Difficulty levels explained
- Easy (10×10, 8 words): words only run left to right and top to bottom. Great for kids, beginners and a quick relaxing break.
- Medium (13×13, 12 words): adds diagonals that read downward or upward to the right. A good everyday challenge.
- Hard (15×15, 16 words): words run in all eight directions, including backwards, and cross each other more often. The filler letters are also drawn from the hidden words, so there are more decoys.
- Daily (12×12, 12 words): all eight directions, one shared puzzle per day.
Every generated grid is checked so each word appears exactly once. You'll never find a "bonus" copy that doesn't count.
Why word search puzzles are worth your time
Word searches are one of the most popular pencil puzzles in the world, and for good reason: they're relaxing, they need no special knowledge, and they suit every age. Hunting for words exercises visual scanning, pattern recognition and focus, and themed lists are a fun way to pick up new vocabulary. They're a favorite with teachers for spelling practice.
If you enjoy finding words, try our Crosswords for a clue-based challenge, Word Scramble to race the clock, or Anagrams to see how many words you can build from six letters. You'll find more in our collection of word games.
Frequently asked questions
Is this word search free to play?
Yes. Every puzzle, including the daily word search and unlimited practice puzzles, is completely free. There's nothing to download and no account needed, and it works in any modern browser on phones, tablets and computers.
How do I select a word on my phone?
Put your finger on the first letter and slide to the last letter; the highlight snaps to a straight line as you drag. If dragging is awkward, tap the first letter and then tap the last letter instead.
Can words go backwards or diagonally?
It depends on the level. Easy puzzles only use across and down. Medium adds diagonals. Hard and Daily puzzles hide words in all eight directions, including backwards, upward and diagonally in reverse.
Is there a new word search every day?
Yes. A new daily puzzle with a fresh theme appears at midnight your local time. Everyone plays the same grid, so you can compare your time on the leaderboard and share your result with friends.
Does the game save my progress?
Yes. Your grid, the words you've found and your time are saved on your device after every move. If you close the page, your puzzle will be waiting, paused, when you come back.
How do hints work?
Each puzzle includes three hints. A hint makes the first letter of an unfound word pulse on the grid. Puzzles solved with hints still count as completed, but they don't set personal bests or appear on the leaderboard.
Are word searches good for kids?
Absolutely. Easy puzzles use a small grid with words that only run across and down, and themes like Animals, Colors, Fruits and Back to School are great for young readers practicing spelling and letter recognition.