4-letter answer to Musical lead-in to beat in NYT Crossword October 21 2026 is AFRO
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If you just need a nudge, check the hints, which are in three layers: hint, meaning and explanation. You can reveal these sections as you want. For example, you can reveal the explanation part and there is no need to enable the others.
While you’re here, be sure to check out our FAQ section! We break down exactly why an answer makes sense and even show you how often it has popped up in past puzzles. It’s a great way to pick up on common clues and get better at solving future crosswords.
The clue tells you the shape of the answer
- An abbreviated answer gets signalled in the clue, either by an abbreviation, an “Abbr.” tag, or a phrase like “for short” or “briefly.”
- A question mark at the end means wordplay, not a definition.
- Quotation marks usually mean somebody says it out loud, unless the clue names a title.
- Square brackets usually mean the answer is a sound or a gesture rather than words.
- Tense, number and degree always agree.
The day of the week is a difficulty setting
Monday is nearly literal. Puns arrive Wednesday. Thursday is the trick day, where rebus squares hold several letters in one box. Friday and Saturday are almost always themeless and wide open, with Saturday the hardest of the week.
Sunday confuses people. At 21×21 it’s nearly twice the area of a weekday grid, but it’s edited to roughly Wednesday or Thursday difficulty. Long isn’t the same as hard.
