NYT CONNECTIONS HELP
Connections Hints for Oct 2, 2026
Puzzle #1209
Choose a word or reveal a clue when you need it.
Words in This Puzzle
16 wordsSelect a word to see its meaning and why it may be tricky.
LITTLE
A familiar word with several possible readings.
Meaning
Small in size, amount or degree. It can also refer to the smallest member of a set.
Why It May Be Tricky
Look beyond size alone: a familiar adjective can also be part of a specific name.
REAL ESTATE
A familiar word with several possible readings.
Meaning
Land and the buildings on it; also the business of buying, selling or renting property.
Why It May Be Tricky
The business meaning is obvious, but the phrase can also combine with a word placed before it.
COMMON
A familiar word with several possible readings.
Meaning
Frequent, widely shared or ordinary. It can also describe something held by more than one person.
Why It May Be Tricky
Its ownership sense may distract from its everyday meaning. Decide which use fits the other words.
RING
A familiar word with several possible readings.
Meaning
A circular band, an enclosed area, or a clear bell-like sound. As a verb, it can mean to sound or telephone someone.
Why It May Be Tricky
Jewelry and sound are strong first associations. The word can also appear in a familiar compound name.
INDEX
A familiar word with several possible readings.
Meaning
An organized reference list, a numerical measure, or a verb meaning to arrange entries for lookup.
Why It May Be Tricky
Books and financial markets are only two possible contexts. A compound use may matter more than a standalone definition.
FUND
A familiar word with several possible readings.
Meaning
Money set aside for a purpose. As a verb, it means to supply money for an activity or project.
Why It May Be Tricky
Switching from noun to verb changes the possible connection. The tile does not tell you which grammatical role to use.
BANKROLL
A familiar word with several possible readings.
Meaning
A supply of money. As a verb, it means to pay for or financially sustain an undertaking.
Why It May Be Tricky
It can describe either the money itself or what someone does with that money.
RIB
A familiar word with several possible readings.
Meaning
A curved bone around the chest, a cut of meat, or a raised ridge. As a verb, it can mean to tease.
Why It May Be Tricky
Anatomy, food and joking all offer plausible readings. Do not assume the first one you notice is the relevant one.
STANDARD
A familiar word with several possible readings.
Meaning
A benchmark or accepted level. As an adjective, it can mean usual, established or regularly supplied.
Why It May Be Tricky
The noun suggests a measure of quality; the adjective can be much more ordinary.
MIDDLE
A familiar word with several possible readings.
Meaning
The central part or position between two ends. It can be used as a noun or adjective.
Why It May Be Tricky
Position is the obvious idea, but this word can also be part of a more specific name.
STOCK
A familiar word with several possible readings.
Meaning
Goods kept available, company shares, or cooking liquid. As an adjective, it can mean standard or routinely used, as in a stock response.
Why It May Be Tricky
The finance reading is tempting on this board. Its adjective meaning is easy to overlook.
SUPPORT
A familiar word with several possible readings.
Meaning
Help or something that holds another thing up. As a verb, it can mean to assist, uphold or provide resources.
Why It May Be Tricky
Physical, emotional and financial support are different uses of the same word.
BACK
A familiar word with several possible readings.
Meaning
The rear part of something. As a verb, it can mean to endorse or provide assistance to a person or undertaking.
Why It May Be Tricky
The body-part reading may keep you from noticing an action. Try changing its part of speech.
NUMBER
A familiar word with several possible readings.
Meaning
A quantity, a numeral, or an identifying figure. It can also name a musical performance or individual item.
Why It May Be Tricky
Several meanings fit familiar phrases. Try the whole expression rather than only the isolated word.
ROUTINE
A familiar word with several possible readings.
Meaning
A regular sequence of actions. As an adjective, it means ordinary or done in the usual way.
Why It May Be Tricky
A scheduled activity and an ordinary quality are different readings. The adjective may be more useful.
TIME
A familiar word with several possible readings.
Meaning
Duration, a particular moment or an occasion. As a verb, it means to measure or arrange when something happens.
Why It May Be Tricky
The tile is TIME, not TIMER. Consider familiar phrases using the exact word shown.
Connection Help
Choose any group and reveal only the help you want.
Puzzle’s 16 Words
Small Nudge
Get a gentle hint without revealing the group.
Think about what makes it possible for a project to get off the ground.
Group
Reveal the four words in this group.
BACK · BANKROLL · FUND · SUPPORT
Connection
Reveal what these four words have in common.
FINANCE
Why They Connect
See why these four words belong together.
Read these as verbs for providing money or financial backing. BACK and SUPPORT are broad words, but both can describe helping to pay for an undertaking.
Small Nudge
Get a gentle hint without revealing the group.
Think about a set you can use to count without any tools.
Group
Reveal the four words in this group.
INDEX · LITTLE · MIDDLE · RING
Connection
Reveal what these four words have in common.
FINGERS
Why They Connect
See why these four words belong together.
Each word names a finger when paired with “finger.” LITTLE is the pinky; INDEX, MIDDLE and RING name the other three fingers in this group.
Small Nudge
Get a gentle hint without revealing the group.
Try describing something that would not surprise you.
Group
Reveal the four words in this group.
COMMON · ROUTINE · STANDARD · STOCK
Connection
Reveal what these four words have in common.
CUSTOMARY
Why They Connect
See why these four words belong together.
These adjectives can describe something usual, conventional or regularly encountered. STOCK has this sense in phrases such as “a stock response,” rather than its meaning of company shares.
Small Nudge
Get a gentle hint without revealing the group.
Try putting the same missing word before several tiles.
Group
Reveal the four words in this group.
NUMBER · REAL ESTATE · RIB · TIME
Connection
Reveal what these four words have in common.
PRIME ___
Why They Connect
See why these four words belong together.
Add PRIME before each entry to make prime number, prime real estate, prime rib and prime time. The repeated link is a missing first word, rather than a shared standalone meaning.
Reveal All 4 Groups
See the four complete group answers only when you're ready.
Yellow Group
FINANCEBACK · BANKROLL · FUND · SUPPORT
Why They Connect
Read these as verbs for providing money or financial backing. BACK and SUPPORT are broad words, but both can describe helping to pay for an undertaking.
Green Group
FINGERSINDEX · LITTLE · MIDDLE · RING
Why They Connect
Each word names a finger when paired with “finger.” LITTLE is the pinky; INDEX, MIDDLE and RING name the other three fingers in this group.
Blue Group
CUSTOMARYCOMMON · ROUTINE · STANDARD · STOCK
Why They Connect
These adjectives can describe something usual, conventional or regularly encountered. STOCK has this sense in phrases such as “a stock response,” rather than its meaning of company shares.
Purple Group
PRIME ___NUMBER · REAL ESTATE · RIB · TIME
Why They Connect
Add PRIME before each entry to make prime number, prime real estate, prime rib and prime time. The repeated link is a missing first word, rather than a shared standalone meaning.
△ Tricky Connections
Some combinations look like they belong together, but aren't one of today's groups.
How Our Connections Hints Work
Choose a word to understand its meaning and why it might be tricky in this puzzle.
For each group, reveal a small nudge, the four words, the connection, or the explanation separately.
Reveal All 4 Groups shows the complete answers when you are ready.