Word Search

How to play Word Search

Word Search is a quiet, familiar puzzle: a grid of letters and a list of words hidden inside it. Words may run up, down, left, right, or along any diagonal, which means you have eight directions to scan. Select a word by dragging across its letters, or by tapping the first letter and then the last. Clear the whole list to finish, then start a new randomly generated grid when you want another round.

It is a good game for a short break because you can look up from the page at any time without losing a streak or a timer. Many players sweep the grid for unusual letters first — Q, X, Z, or a rare pair — and only then hunt the common words. Others work the list from longest to shortest, since a long word is easier to spot once you know its shape.

The puzzle runs entirely in your browser. There is no download, no account, and no limit on how many new grids you can play.

Tips

• Scan for the least common letter in a word rather than reading every row from left to right.
• Start with the longest words; they have a more recognizable shape and clear more of the list at once.
• If dragging is awkward on a small screen, tap the first letter of the word and then the last letter.

Controls: mouse, touch. No download and no sign-in required.

FAQ

Which directions can words run?

All eight: left, right, up, down, and the four diagonals. A word may also run backwards.

Is this word search free to play online?

Yes. It loads in your browser with no download and no sign-in. You can generate a new grid after you finish.

How do I select a word on a phone?

Drag from the first letter to the last, or tap the start letter and then the end letter if a drag is hard to control.