Spot twelve hidden words running in any direction, try seven themed lists, or turn your own word list into a new grid.
Word Search is a calm hunt for twelve words tucked inside a block of letters. Every word runs in a straight line, but the direction can be anything: across in either direction, up or down, or along any diagonal. When you find one, drag across it and it gets crossed off.
The grids come from WordFind.js, an open-source generator written by Bill of BunKat LLC and extended by Lucas-C.
Getting started
A theme is picked for you when the page loads. There are seven of them, from Animals and Fruit to Space and Ocean, and each has twelve words. Look over the list, pick a word and find where it begins in the grid. Hold down on that starting letter, slide straight to its end and release.
Found words turn blue and are struck through on the list. If the letters you covered do not spell anything, the selection simply vanishes. As you drag, an orange trail follows your path and stops extending as soon as you wander off every word still hidden.
Making your own puzzle
The built-in themes are only a starting point. Edit any word in the list by typing over it, and press Add word when you want more. Then hit New grid with these words. The generator fits every entry into a new layout and enlarges the grid if it has to. Blank boxes are ignored.
That makes it easy to turn a spelling list or a set of vocabulary words into a quick activity. The same button also reshuffles the current words into a different arrangement, and New word list jumps to the next theme.
Winning moves
- Look for rare letters. The random filler never uses Q, X or Z, so any of those must be part of a hidden word.
- Go after the longest word early. The grid starts exactly as wide as that word, so it tends to span a whole row, column or diagonal.
- When a starting letter leads nowhere, find the word’s final letter and read backward from there.
- Use words you have found as landmarks. Words often overlap, so another may share a letter nearby.
- If the orange trail stops growing, change direction.
Good to know
Once all twelve are found, the board goes green and shows the All words found note. You can take all the time you want, since nothing is being scored. Stuck on the last one or two? Solve Puzzle shows every word you have not found yet in purple.
Controls
| Action | Mouse | Touch |
|---|---|---|
| Select a word | Press on the first letter and drag to the last | Touch the first letter and slide to the last |
| Switch to the next themed word list | Click "New word list" | Tap "New word list" |
| Make a new grid from the words shown | Click "New grid with these words" | Tap "New grid with these words" |
| Add or change a word | Click "Add word" for an extra box | Tap "Add word" for an extra box |
| Reveal the remaining words | Click "Solve Puzzle" | Tap "Solve Puzzle" |
Word Search FAQ
Can I play Word Search on a phone or Chromebook?
Yes. Swipe over the letters with a fingertip, or drag with a mouse or trackpad. When the screen is narrow, the letter grid sits on top, the list goes underneath and everything scales down to fit.
Is there a timer or score?
No. There is no clock and no points, so you can search at whatever pace you like. When every word is found, the grid turns green and a message confirms you are done.
What should I do if I cannot find the last word?
Check the reverse direction and the diagonals, since words can run backward or on a slant. If you still cannot spot it, Solve Puzzle colors every remaining word in purple so you can see where it was.
Can teachers make a puzzle from their own words?
Yes. Replace the listed words with your own, add more boxes with the Add word button, then build a new grid from them. All of the words get placed, and the grid gets bigger when space runs short. An empty box is simply skipped.
