WSJ Crossword July 13, 2026 Answers and Explanations
The Wall Street Journal crossword for July 13, 2026, “Just Getting Started,” is a Monday puzzle by Zhouqin Burnikel with 78 clues on a 15×15 grid. Monday grids at the Journal are the gentlest of the week, with direct clues and familiar vocabulary, so most entries can be confirmed from a single crossing. The longest entry is PILOTEPISODE at 12 letters.
Every answer is listed below in grid order, Across first and then Down, with a short explanation of how the entry sits in the grid. Use the Definition link under any entry to pull the dictionary meaning of the answer word, or click the clue to open its own page with past appearances and neighboring clues.
Across
1 Across is ANTE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with A and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
5 Across is ERICA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with E and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
10 Across is BABE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with B and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
14 Across is RIOS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 1. It begins with R and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
15 Across is LAMAS, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 6. It begins with L and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
16 Across is ADAM, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 2, column 12. It begins with A and ends with M, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
17 Across is KNOCKKNOCK, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 1. It begins with K and ends with K, with 2 vowels among its 10 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
19 Across is ROLO, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 3, column 12. It begins with R and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
20 Across is SATAN, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 1. It begins with S and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
21 Across is DUH, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 7. It begins with D and ends with H, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
22 Across is TIBET, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with T and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
23 Across is PILOTEPISODE, a 12-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 5, column 4. It begins with P and ends with E, with 6 vowels among its 12 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
26 Across is OMEGA, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 2. It begins with O and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
28 Across is OPTS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 6, column 10. It begins with O and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
29 Across is ONE, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with O and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
30 Across is HORNET, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 5. It begins with H and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
34 Across is AAAS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 7, column 12. It begins with A and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 4 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
37 Across is BIDET, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 1. It begins with B and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
39 Across is HOW, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 7. It begins with H and ends with W, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
40 Across is GSUIT, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 8, column 11. It begins with G and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
41 Across is ITSY, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 1. It begins with I and ends with Y, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
42 Across is BODEGA, a 6-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 6. It begins with B and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
44 Across is CRY, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 9, column 13. It begins with C and ends with Y, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
45 Across is TENT, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 3. It begins with T and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters.
47 Across is ARIES, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 10, column 10. It begins with A and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
49 Across is HOUSEWARMING, a 12-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with H and ends with G, with 5 vowels among its 12 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
54 Across is ENDOW, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 1. It begins with E and ends with W, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
55 Across is REC, a 3-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 7. It begins with R and ends with C, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
56 Across is ENSUE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 12, column 11. It begins with E and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
60 Across is ACER, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 1. It begins with A and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
61 Across is DEARFRIEND, a 10-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with D and ends with D, with 4 vowels among its 10 letters. The question mark signals wordplay, so read the clue as a pun rather than literally.
63 Across is DUNE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 1. It begins with D and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
64 Across is INDIE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 6. It begins with I and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
65 Across is TATE, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 14, column 12. It begins with T and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
66 Across is SETS, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 1. It begins with S and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
67 Across is MAYBE, a 5-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 6. It begins with M and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
68 Across is ETON, a 4-letter entry that runs left to right starting in row 15, column 12. It begins with E and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
Down
1 Down is ARKS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 1. It begins with A and ends with S, with 1 vowel among its 4 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
2 Down is NINA, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 2. It begins with N and ends with A, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
3 Down is TOOT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 3. It begins with T and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
4 Down is ESCAPE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 4. It begins with E and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
5 Down is ELK, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 6. It begins with E and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
6 Down is RANDO, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 7. It begins with R and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
7 Down is IMOUT, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 8. It begins with I and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
8 Down is CACHE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 9. It begins with C and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
9 Down is ASK, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 10. It begins with A and ends with K, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
10 Down is BARISTAS, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 12. It begins with B and ends with S, with 3 vowels among its 8 letters.
11 Down is ADOBOSAUCE, a 10-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 13. It begins with A and ends with E, with 6 vowels among its 10 letters.
12 Down is BALED, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 14. It begins with B and ends with D, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
13 Down is EMOTE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 1, column 15. It begins with E and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
18 Down is KNIGHT, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 3, column 5. It begins with K and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 6 letters.
22 Down is TIP, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 4, column 11. It begins with T and ends with P, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
24 Down is LAO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 6. It begins with L and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
25 Down is POT, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 5, column 10. It begins with P and ends with T, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
26 Down is ONIT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 2. It begins with O and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
27 Down is MEDSTUDENT, a 10-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 6, column 3. It begins with M and ends with T, with 3 vowels among its 10 letters.
29 Down is OBI, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 1. It begins with O and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
31 Down is RHO, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 7. It begins with R and ends with O, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
32 Down is NOD, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 8. It begins with N and ends with D, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
33 Down is EWE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 9. It begins with E and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
35 Down is AIRS, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 14. It begins with A and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters. A clue phrased this way asks for the category that the example belongs to.
36 Down is STY, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 7, column 15. It begins with S and ends with Y, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
38 Down is EYESORES, a 8-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 4. It begins with E and ends with S, with 4 vowels among its 8 letters. A plural clue takes a plural answer, which is why the entry ends in S.
40 Down is GARNER, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 8, column 11. It begins with G and ends with R, with 2 vowels among its 6 letters.
42 Down is BTW, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 6. It begins with B and ends with W, with 0 vowels among its 3 letters.
43 Down is GAI, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 9, column 10. It begins with G and ends with I, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
46 Down is NEW, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 5. It begins with N and ends with W, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
48 Down is IGNITE, a 6-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 10, column 12. It begins with I and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 6 letters.
49 Down is HEADS, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 1. It begins with H and ends with S, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
50 Down is ONCUE, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 2. It begins with O and ends with E, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
51 Down is ARENA, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 7. It begins with A and ends with A, with 3 vowels among its 5 letters.
52 Down is READY, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 8. It begins with R and ends with Y, with 2 vowels among its 5 letters.
53 Down is MCRIB, a 5-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 11, column 9. It begins with M and ends with B, with 1 vowel among its 5 letters.
57 Down is SEAT, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 13. It begins with S and ends with T, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
58 Down is UNTO, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 14. It begins with U and ends with O, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
59 Down is EDEN, a 4-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 12, column 15. It begins with E and ends with N, with 2 vowels among its 4 letters.
61 Down is DIM, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 6. It begins with D and ends with M, with 1 vowel among its 3 letters.
62 Down is FEE, a 3-letter entry that runs top to bottom starting in row 13, column 10. It begins with F and ends with E, with 2 vowels among its 3 letters.
About this puzzle
This Monday grid contains 37 Across and 41 Down entries, with 38 black squares. Monday grids at the Journal are the gentlest of the week, with direct clues and familiar vocabulary, so most entries can be confirmed from a single crossing.
Prefer to solve it yourself first? The homepage lists every clue for the latest puzzle without answers, and the archive covers every WSJ crossword in our index by date. The official puzzle is published on the WSJ Puzzles page.