First, second or third NYT Crossword Clue

By Emre Parlak Last Update: SEP 25, 2026 Follow on Google

Crossword Answer

Click ? to reveal letters one by one before showing the full answer.

Clue History: First, second or third

Complete History & Past Answers

Answer Letters Puzzle

GEAR

Letters 4

NYT Crossword - September 25 2026

ORDINAL

Letters 7

NYT Crossword - December 13 2025

BASE

Letters 4

NYT Crossword - September 9 2025

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Hint 1

hint

Hint 2

meaning

Hint 3

explanation

Q1.

What is the most likely answer for the crossword clue "First, second or third"?

The most common and recent 4-letter answer for "First, second or third" is GEAR.

Q2.

Why is "GEAR" the answer to the clue "First, second or third"?

The clue refers to the different positions or settings in a vehicle's transmission system, which are commonly known as first gear, second gear, and third gear.

Q3.

What does the word "GEAR" mean in this context?

A gear is a toothed wheel that works with others to alter the relationship between the speed of a driving mechanism and the speed of the driven parts.

Q4.

What are some other crossword clues that share the same answer?

Swiss watch part, Park, neutral or reverse, Shifting choice, Bicyclist's setting, Stuff, belongings

Q5.

When has "First, second or third" crossword clue been used historically?

NYT Crossword - September 25 2026 - NYT Crossword - December 13 2025 - NYT Crossword - September 9 2025

4-letter answer to First, second or third in NYT Crossword September 25 2026 is GEAR

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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.