Word Search: the classic puzzle, free online
Word search is one of the best-loved puzzles in the world: a square of letters, a list of words, and the quiet satisfaction of circling each one as you find it. This version brings the pen-and-paper classic to your browser, with 25 themes, three sizes and smooth drag-to-select controls that work on phones, tablets and computers.
Pick a theme you like, from animals and fruits to space, the ocean or music, choose a level, and start hunting. Every puzzle is freshly generated, so you will never run out of grids.
How to play
- Choose a theme and a level. Easy is an 8×8 grid with six words across and down. Medium is 10×10 with diagonals. Hard is 12×12 and hides words in all eight directions, including backwards.
- Drag across a word. Press on its first letter and slide to its last letter. The highlight snaps to straight lines, so you do not have to be precise.
- Watch the list. Each word you find gets its own color on the grid and is crossed off the list.
- Beat your time. The clock starts with your first move, and your best time for each level is saved.
Strategies that make you faster
Start with the longest words. Long words cover more of the grid and are easier to spot once you find their first two letters.
Hunt for unusual letters. If a word contains Q, Z, J, X or K, look for that letter first. There are only a few of them, so the word is usually right next to one.
Sweep systematically. Read along each row, then each column, looking only for the first letter of the word you want. When you find it, check its eight neighbours for the second letter.
Look at patterns, not letters. Double letters and common endings like -ING or -ER form shapes your eye can learn to recognise quickly.
Good for learning
Word searches are a favourite in classrooms because they build spelling, vocabulary and visual scanning skills at the same time. Children practise recognising letters and the order they come in; adults get a calming exercise in focus and attention. Our themed lists, such as the school, body, jobs and weather themes, make it easy to pick a topic that matches what a child is learning.
More word games
When you have found every word, try Word Connect, where you swipe letters to fill a crossword, or guess the secret word in Hangman. For a different kind of search, the Schulte Table trains the same scanning skills with numbers.
How to play Word Search
- A list of words is hidden in the grid of letters. Each word runs in a straight line.
- Drag from the first letter of a word to its last letter to circle it. The selection snaps to straight lines.
- Easy hides words across and down. Medium adds diagonals. Hard also hides words backwards.
- Find every word on the list to finish the puzzle. Your best time for each level is saved.
Word Search tips
Look for rare letters
Letters like Q, Z, X, J and K appear only a few times in the grid. If a word contains one, scan for that letter first.
Scan row by row
Instead of hunting randomly, sweep your eyes along each row for the first letter of a word, then check the neighbours for the second letter.
Double letters stand out
Words with a double letter, like BALLOON or COFFEE, are easy to spot because the pair catches the eye.
Frequently asked questions
How do you play word search online?
Press on the first letter of a word and drag to its last letter, then let go. If the letters spell a word on the list, it is circled in color and crossed off the list.
What themes are there?
Twenty-five, including animals, fruits, vegetables, sports, space, ocean, weather, school, the human body, jobs, music, colors, birds, insects, transport, kitchen, clothes, countries and more.
Is word search good for kids?
Yes. It practises spelling and letter recognition, and the Easy level uses a small grid with words only across and down. The word lists are family-friendly.
Can words go backwards?
Only on Hard. Easy uses across and down, Medium adds diagonals, and Hard allows all eight directions, including backwards.
