Today's NYT Strands is live for Tuesday, May 5, 2026 (Puzzle #793). Stuck on today's Strands? We've got progressive hints, from gentle nudges to full solutions, so you can solve at your own pace.
How Strands Works (New Players Start Here)
Strands hides themed words inside a 6x8 letter grid. Your mission: find every word connected to the day's theme. Letters link in any direction (horizontal, vertical, diagonal) and words can twist and turn. Every letter gets used exactly once.
The spangram is the key word or phrase that captures the theme and stretches across the entire board, touching opposite edges.
Need a boost? Find any 4+ letter word (even non-theme words) three times, and the game reveals a hint highlighting theme word letters.
Theme Decoder
Today's Theme Prompt: "Get up!"
What It Really Means
This puzzle is all about the morning routine and everything that gets you out of bed. Every theme word connects to that first hour of the day, from the alarm that wakes you to the display you check before your feet hit the floor.
Think About...
- Features and functions of a modern alarm clock or bedside device
- Actions and settings you interact with when waking up
- Components of a clock radio or digital timepiece
Spangram Clues
Orientation: Snake pattern (across, down, across, down, and across again)
Letter Count: 11 letters
Starting Zone: First letter of the second row
Progressive Spangram Hints
Hint 1 (Gentle): Think about what sits on your nightstand and tells you exactly what time it is, but in a specific modern format.
Hint 2 (Warmer): This is the device that uses glowing numbers rather than hands on a face.
Hint 3 (Almost There): First letter is D, last letter is K
---
---
---
---
---
DIGITALCLOCK
Word-by-Word Hints
Solve as many as you can before peeking. Each word includes escalating clues.
Word 1
Vague: A fundamental measurement that governs your entire day.
Closer: What every clock displays first and foremost.
Letter Clue: Starts with T, 4 letters total
Answer
TIME
Word 2
Vague: The sound that ends your sleep, whether you love it or hate it.
Closer: A programmed notification set for a specific hour.
Letter Clue: Starts with A, 5 letters total
Answer
ALARM
Word 3
Vague: The button you hit when you're not quite ready to face the day.
Closer: A temporary delay on your morning wake-up call.
Letter Clue: Starts with S, 6 letters total
Answer
SNOOZE
Word 4
Vague: Information that often appears alongside the time on a display.
Closer: The day, month, and year you might glance at before getting up.
Letter Clue: Starts with D, 4 letters total
Answer
DATE
Word 5
Vague: A source of sound that fills the room when your alarm goes off.
Closer: The audio feature that lets you wake up to music or talk shows.
Letter Clue: Starts with R, 5 letters total
Answer
RADIO
Word 6
Vague: The visual component of a digital device that shows you everything.
Closer: The screen that lights up with numbers, text, and settings.
Letter Clue: Starts with D, 7 letters total
Answer
DISPLAY
Word 7
Vague: The component that lets you pick which station plays in the morning.
Closer: A control for selecting frequencies on your clock radio.
Letter Clue: Starts with T, 5 letters total
Answer
TUNER
Full Answers
Spangram: DIGITALCLOCK
Theme Words:
- TIME
- ALARM
- SNOOZE
- DATE
- RADIO
- DISPLAY
- TUNER
Puzzle Debrief
Difficulty Rating: Easy
Trickiest Word: TUNER (It's the most technical term on the list, and solvers might circle around words like "STATION" or "FREQUENCY" before landing on the mechanical component itself.)
Our Take: A straightforward morning-themed puzzle that doesn't try to trick you. The "Get up!" prompt is literal, and the grid delivers exactly what it promises. DIGITALCLOCK as the spangram ties everything together cleanly, and the 7 theme words cover the essential features of any bedside clock radio. Good warm-up for the week ahead.
