TODAY’S WORDS · SIMPLY EXPLAINED

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Go beyond a one-line meaning. Explore a clear explanation, a natural example sentence and extra dictionary meanings for each of the sixteen words, without revealing the groups.

PUZZLE #1252 Saturday, November 14, 2026
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All 16 words · Alphabetical order · Saturday, November 14, 2026

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advanced

adjective
Meaning

Far ahead in development; using the newest ideas or methods.

Daily puzzle explanation

A little more context

It can describe technology, ideas, training, or a stage of development. In everyday use, it often signals that something is beyond the beginner level or uses newer, more sophisticated methods.

Example in a sentence

“The advanced course assumes that students already understand the basics.”

Other dictionary meanings

adjective Meaning 2

situated ahead or going before

Example: “an advance party”

adjective Meaning 3

(of societies) highly developed especially in technology or industry

Example: “advanced societies”

Show 6 more dictionary meanings
  1. adjective

    far along in time

    Example: “a man of advanced age”

  2. adjective

    comparatively late in a course of development

    Example: “the illness had reached an advanced stage”

  3. adjective

    ahead in development; complex or intricate

    Example: “advanced technology”

  4. adjective

    at a higher level in training or knowledge or skill

    Example: “an advanced degree”

  5. adjective

    farther along in physical or mental development

    Example: “the child's skeletal age was classified as `advanced'”

  6. adjective

    ahead of the times

    Example: “the advanced teaching methods”

battle

noun
Meaning

A fight between armed forces or opposing sides.

Daily puzzle explanation

A little more context

A battle is a sustained fight between opposing forces, often within a larger war. The word is also used figuratively for a difficult contest, disagreement, or determined effort.

Example in a sentence

“The two sides fought a long battle for control of the bridge.”

Other dictionary meanings

noun Meaning 2

an energetic attempt to achieve something

Example: “getting through the crowd was a real struggle”

noun Meaning 3

a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war

Example: “Grant won a decisive victory in the battle of Chickamauga”

Show 2 more dictionary meanings
  1. noun

    an open clash between two opposing groups (or individuals)

    Example: “the harder the conflict the more glorious the triumph”

  2. verb

    battle or contend against in or as if in a battle

    Example: “The Kurds are combating Iraqi troops in Northern Iraq”

campus

noun
Meaning

The grounds and buildings of a university, college or school.

Daily puzzle explanation

A little more context

A campus is the whole site associated with an educational institution, not just one classroom. It commonly includes teaching buildings, libraries, outdoor spaces, sports facilities, and sometimes student housing.

Example in a sentence

“Students crossed the campus to reach the library before their first class.”

Other dictionary meanings

noun Meaning 2

a field on which the buildings of a university are situated

center

noun
Meaning

A building or place dedicated to a particular activity or service.

Daily puzzle explanation

A little more context

A center is a place organized around a particular service, activity, or purpose. The word can refer to one building, a department inside a larger organization, or a hub where people gather.

Example in a sentence

“The community center runs classes, events, and after-school programs.”

Other dictionary meanings

noun Meaning 2

a position on a basketball team of the player who participates in the jump that starts the game

noun Meaning 3

(American football) the position of the player on the line of scrimmage who puts the ball in play

Example: “it is a center's responsibility to get the football to the quarterback”

Show 21 more dictionary meanings
  1. noun

    the position on a hockey team of the player who participates in the face off at the beginning of the game

  2. noun

    a building dedicated to a particular activity

    Example: “they were raising money to build a new center for research”

  3. noun

    the piece of ground in the outfield directly ahead of the catcher

    Example: “he hit the ball to deep center”

  4. noun

    mercantile establishment consisting of a carefully landscaped complex of shops representing leading merchandisers; usually includes restaurants and a convenient parking area; a modern version of the traditional marketplace

    Example: “a good plaza should have a movie house”

  5. noun

    a cluster of nerve cells governing a specific bodily process

    Example: “in most people the speech center is in the left hemisphere”

  6. noun

    the object upon which interest and attention focuses

    Example: “his stories made him the center of the party”

  7. noun

    the choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience

    Example: “the gist of the prosecutor's argument”

  8. noun

    the sweet central portion of a piece of candy that is enclosed in chocolate or some other covering

  9. noun

    politically moderate persons; centrists

  10. noun

    the middle of a military or naval formation

    Example: “they had to reinforce the center”

  11. noun

    a place where some particular activity is concentrated

    Example: “they received messages from several centers”

  12. noun

    a point equidistant from the ends of a line or the extremities of a figure

  13. noun

    an area that is approximately central within some larger region

    Example: “it is in the center of town”

  14. noun

    (football) the person who plays center on the line of scrimmage and snaps the ball to the quarterback

    Example: “the center fumbled the handoff”

  15. noun

    (basketball) the person who plays center on a basketball team

  16. noun

    (ice hockey) the person who plays center on a hockey team

  17. verb

    direct one's attention on something

    Example: “Please focus on your studies and not on your hobbies”

  18. verb

    move into the center

    Example: “That vase in the picture is not centered”

  19. verb

    center upon

    Example: “Her entire attention centered on her children”

  20. adjective

    equally distant from the extremes

  21. adjective

    of or belonging to neither the right nor the left politically or intellectually

chess

noun
Meaning

A two-player strategy game played on a checkered board of 64 squares.

Daily puzzle explanation

A little more context

Chess is played by two people on an eight-by-eight board. Each side has sixteen pieces with different moves, and the aim is to trap the opposing king in checkmate.

Example in a sentence

“She studies chess openings before playing in a weekend tournament.”

Other dictionary meanings

noun Meaning 2

a board game for two players who move their 16 pieces according to specific rules; the object is to checkmate the opponent's king

noun Meaning 3

weedy annual native to Europe but widely distributed as a weed especially in wheat

complex

noun
Meaning

A group of buildings or facilities that are related or used together.

Daily puzzle explanation

A little more context

As a noun, a complex is a connected group of buildings, rooms, or facilities used together. The same spelling can also be an adjective meaning complicated, so context determines the sense.

Example in a sentence

“The sports complex includes an arena, swimming pool, and training rooms.”

Other dictionary meanings

noun Meaning 2

a whole structure (as a building) made up of interconnected or related structures

noun Meaning 3

a conceptual whole made up of complicated and related parts

Example: “the complex of shopping malls, houses, and roads created a new town”

Show 4 more dictionary meanings
  1. noun

    (psychoanalysis) a combination of emotions and impulses that have been rejected from awareness but still influence a person's behavior

  2. noun

    a compound described in terms of the central atom to which other atoms are bound or coordinated

  3. adjective

    complicated in structure; consisting of interconnected parts

    Example: “a complex set of variations based on a simple folk melody”

  4. adjective

    difficult to analyze or understand

    Example: “a complicated problem”

facility

noun
Meaning

A place, building or equipment provided for a particular purpose.

Daily puzzle explanation

A little more context

A facility is a building, space, piece of equipment, or service provided for a particular activity. In the plural, facilities often means the amenities available at a place.

Example in a sentence

“The new research facility has specialist laboratories and meeting rooms.”

Other dictionary meanings

noun Meaning 2

a service that an organization or a piece of equipment offers you

Example: “a cell phone with internet facility”

noun Meaning 3

something designed and created to serve a particular function and to afford a particular convenience or service

Example: “catering facilities”

Show 3 more dictionary meanings
  1. noun

    a building or place that provides a particular service or is used for a particular industry

    Example: “the assembly plant is an enormous facility”

  2. noun

    a natural effortlessness

    Example: “they conversed with great facility”

  3. noun

    skillful performance or ability without difficulty

    Example: “his quick adeptness was a product of good design”

foremost

adjective
Meaning

Most important or leading.

Daily puzzle explanation

A little more context

It describes the person or thing that leads a field, ranks first, or deserves the greatest attention. It can refer to importance, reputation, or position.

Example in a sentence

“Keeping visitors safe was our foremost concern.”

Other dictionary meanings

adjective Meaning 2

preceding all others in spatial position

Example: “the foremost compartment of the ship”

adjective Meaning 3

ranking above all others

Example: “was first in her class”

Show 3 more dictionary meanings
  1. adjective

    situated closest to the bow

    Example: “the foremost compartment of the ship”

  2. adverb

    before anything else

    Example: “first we must consider the garter snake”

  3. adverb

    prominently forward

    Example: “he put his best foot foremost”

Go

noun
Meaning

An ancient two-player strategy game in which players place stones on a grid to surround territory.

Daily puzzle explanation

A little more context

Go is played by two people who take turns placing black and white stones on the intersections of a grid. Players aim to surround territory; the rules are simple, but the strategic possibilities are vast.

Example in a sentence

“In Go, a single stone can influence the shape of a large area of the board.”

Other dictionary meanings

noun Meaning 2

a board game for two players who place counters on a grid; the object is to surround and so capture the opponent's counters

Show 28 more dictionary meanings
  1. noun

    street names for methylenedioxymethamphetamine

  2. noun

    a time period for working (after which you will be relieved by someone else)

    Example: “it's my go”

  3. verb

    enter or assume a certain state or condition

    Example: “He became annoyed when he heard the bad news”

  4. verb

    follow a certain course

    Example: “The inauguration went well”

  5. verb

    pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life

    Example: “She died from cancer”

  6. verb

    be abolished or discarded

    Example: “These ugly billboards have to go!”

  7. verb

    stop operating or functioning

    Example: “The engine finally went”

  8. verb

    progress by being changed

    Example: “The speech has to go through several more drafts”

  9. verb

    give support (to) or make a choice (of) one out of a group or number

    Example: “I plumped for the losing candidates”

  10. verb

    have a turn; make one's move in a game

    Example: “Can I go now?”

  11. verb

    to be spent or finished

    Example: “The money had gone after a few days”

  12. verb

    be spent

    Example: “All my money went for food and rent”

  13. verb

    go through in search of something; search through someone's belongings in an unauthorized way

    Example: “Who rifled through my desk drawers?”

  14. verb

    perform as expected when applied

    Example: “The washing machine won't go unless it's plugged in”

  15. verb

    change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

    Example: “How fast does your new car go?”

  16. verb

    move away from a place into another direction

    Example: “Go away before I start to cry”

  17. verb

    begin or set in motion

    Example: “I start at eight in the morning”

  18. verb

    make a certain noise or sound

    Example: “She went `Mmmmm'”

  19. verb

    follow a procedure or take a course

    Example: “We should go farther in this matter”

  20. verb

    pass, fare, or elapse; of a certain state of affairs or action

    Example: “How is it going?”

  21. verb

    be or continue to be in a certain condition

    Example: “The children went hungry that day”

  22. verb

    continue to live and avoid dying

    Example: “We went without water and food for 3 days”

  23. verb

    be awarded; be allotted

    Example: “The first prize goes to Mary”

  24. verb

    be the right size or shape; fit correctly or as desired

    Example: “This piece won't fit into the puzzle”

  25. verb

    stretch out over a distance, space, time, or scope; run or extend between two points or beyond a certain point

    Example: “Service runs all the way to Cranbury”

  26. verb

    lead, extend, or afford access

    Example: “This door goes to the basement”

  27. verb

    blend or harmonize

    Example: “This flavor will blend with those in your dish”

  28. verb

    be sounded, played, or expressed

    Example: “How does this song go again?”

marriage

noun
Meaning

The formal union of two people as partners in life.

Daily puzzle explanation

A little more context

Marriage commonly refers to a legally or socially recognized partnership between spouses. It can also be used figuratively for a close combination of two things, such as a successful blend of ideas or styles.

Example in a sentence

“The design is a marriage of traditional craftsmanship and modern materials.”

Other dictionary meanings

noun Meaning 2

the act of marrying; the nuptial ceremony

Example: “their marriage was conducted in the chapel”

noun Meaning 3

two people who are married to each other

Example: “his second marriage was happier than the first”

Show 2 more dictionary meanings
  1. noun

    the state of being a married couple voluntarily joined for life (or until divorce)

    Example: “a long and happy marriage”

  2. noun

    a close and intimate union

    Example: “the marriage of music and dance”

modern

adjective
Meaning

Of the present or recent times; up to date.

Daily puzzle explanation

A little more context

The word can describe something from the present or recent past, as well as a style that feels current. It is often used for design, technology, buildings, and ways of thinking.

Example in a sentence

“The library combines a modern design with comfortable study spaces.”

Other dictionary meanings

noun Meaning 2

a typeface (based on an 18th century design by Gianbattista Bodoni) distinguished by regular shape and hairline serifs and heavy downstrokes

noun Meaning 3

a contemporary person

Show 5 more dictionary meanings
  1. adjective

    characteristic of present-day art and music and literature and architecture

  2. adjective

    used of a living language; being the current stage in its development

    Example: “Modern English”

  3. adjective

    relating to a recently developed fashion or style

    Example: “their offices are in a modern skyscraper”

  4. adjective

    belonging to the modern era; since the Middle Ages

    Example: “modern art”

  5. adjective

    ahead of the times

    Example: “the advanced teaching methods”

mottle

verb
Meaning

To mark with spots or patches of different colors.

Daily puzzle explanation

A little more context

To mottle something is to give it an uneven pattern of spots, blotches, or patches in different shades or colors. The adjective “mottled” is often used for surfaces, skin, leaves, or stone.

Example in a sentence

“Age and weather had mottled the stone wall with dark patches.”

Other dictionary meanings

noun Meaning 2

an irregular arrangement of patches of color

Example: “it was not dull grey as distance had suggested, but a mottle of khaki and black and olive-green”

verb Meaning 3

colour with streaks or blotches of different shades

Show 1 more dictionary meanings
  1. verb

    mark with spots or blotches of different color or shades of color as if stained

Othello

noun
Meaning

A two-player strategy game in which discs flip color when trapped between an opponent's discs.

Daily puzzle explanation

A little more context

Othello is a two-player board game played with reversible black-and-white discs. A move traps one or more of the opponent's discs between your own, causing the trapped discs to flip.

Example in a sentence

“A corner square is valuable in Othello because its disc cannot be flipped.”

Other dictionary meanings

noun Meaning 2

the hero of William Shakespeare's tragedy who would not trust his wife

progressive

adjective
Meaning

Favoring new ideas, reform or gradual improvement.

Daily puzzle explanation

A little more context

It describes support for change or improvement rather than preserving every existing practice. It can also describe an approach that develops gradually, step by step.

Example in a sentence

“The school introduced a progressive teaching approach that gives students more choice.”

Other dictionary meanings

noun Meaning 2

a person who favors a political philosophy of progress and reform and the protection of civil liberties

Show 6 more dictionary meanings
  1. adjective

    advancing in severity

    Example: “progressive paralysis”

  2. adjective

    favoring or promoting reform (often by government action)

  3. adjective

    (of a card game or a dance) involving a series of sections for which the participants successively change place or relative position

    Example: “progressive euchre”

  4. adjective

    favoring or promoting progress

    Example: “progressive schools”

  5. adjective

    (of taxes) adjusted so that the rate increases as the amount of income increases

  6. adjective

    gradually advancing in extent

Stratego

proper noun
Meaning

A two-player board game of hidden pieces in which you try to capture your opponent's flag.

Daily puzzle explanation

A little more context

Stratego is a two-player board game in which each player arranges hidden-rank pieces before play begins. Players use deduction and tactical moves to find and capture the opponent's flag.

Example in a sentence

“In Stratego, a low-ranking piece can still be useful for discovering an opponent's stronger unit.”

trib

Dictionary note

This exact spelling does not have a standard headword in the WordNet 3.1 data or a stored daily explanation. WordNet is a substantial reference, but it does not include every name, abbreviation, inflected form or puzzle-specific spelling.

How to read these definitions

The first explanation is written to make the word easy to understand in ordinary English. Where available, an original example sentence shows how the word can be used. Additional entries are separate senses from Princeton WordNet 3.1, not alternative answers to the puzzle.

WordNet is a lexical reference rather than a complete dictionary of every name, slang term, abbreviation or new expression. A missing entry does not mean a word is invalid.

Previous Connections definitions

Daily puzzle record: Fetched from the date-specific public NYT Games JSON endpoint and validated against the requested puzzle date and required fields. The endpoint is undocumented and may change. It does not provide independent editorial hints.

Lexical reference: Princeton WordNet 3.1, hosted on this site. About WordNet · License and attribution.

The example sentences in the daily explanations are original illustrations. Wordle Hint is an independent puzzle helper and is not affiliated with or endorsed by The New York Times.

Connections Definitions questions

What does this Connections Definitions page show?

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The main word meanings and expanded explanations are editorial descriptions written for this page. Additional meanings, parts of speech, examples and related terms are drawn from the locally hosted Princeton WordNet 3.1 lexical database and labelled separately. The example sentences in the main entries are original illustrations.

Why can one word have several meanings?

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Can I see more meanings and related words?

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