Pay to play crossword clue
5 Down · WSJ Crossword, August 5, 2026 · 4 letters
Explanation
The answer to “Pay to play” is ANTE. It appears as 5 Down in the Wall Street Journal crossword of August 5, 2026, a Wednesday puzzle titled “Fine Art” by Shmuel Schmell, and it fills 4 squares running top to bottom from row 1, column 5 of the 15×15 grid.
The clue is a straightforward definition, so the answer is a direct synonym or a factual match for the words as written. The entry begins with A and ends with E, and contains 2 vowels and 2 consonants. If you are working from the crossings, two or three confirmed letters from the Across entries should be enough to lock it in. Wednesday puzzles sit mid-week on the difficulty curve, so expect the rest of this grid to be pitched at the same level.
Past appearances
Clues in other WSJ puzzles with the answer ANTE:
- Pay to playAug 27, 2026
- Initial costAug 21, 2026
- First chip in the handJul 13, 2026
- Kitty feedJun 17, 2026
- Chip, maybeMay 20, 2026
- Poker paymentMay 9, 2026
This exact clue has also run on:
- WSJ Crossword August 27, 2026answer was ANTE