How to Play Word Search Puzzles

What is a word search?

A word search puzzle gives you a grid of letters and a list of words. Your job is to find each word hidden inside the grid. When you spot a word, circle it or highlight it. Keep going until you find every word on the list. That is the whole game.

Word searches come in many sizes. A small puzzle for kids might be 8 letters across and 8 letters down. A challenging adult puzzle could be 20 by 20 or bigger. The bigger the grid, the harder it is to spot the words.

The basic rules

Word search puzzles have very few rules. That is part of why they are so popular. Anyone can pick one up and start solving right away.

Look at the grid

The puzzle is a square or rectangle filled with letters. Every letter is part of the grid, but not every letter belongs to a hidden word.

Read the word list

Below or beside the grid, you will find a list of words. These are the words you need to find. Some puzzles hide a secret message in the leftover letters.

Scan the grid

Look for the first letter of a word. Once you find it, check the letters around it. Does the rest of the word continue in any direction?

Circle or mark the word

When you find a word, circle the entire word in the grid. Cross it off the word list. Move on to the next one.

Which directions can words go?

In a standard word search, words can run in eight directions. Simple puzzles for kids usually only use two or three directions. Harder puzzles use all eight.

Left to right

Top to bottom

Diagonal down

Diagonal up

Some puzzles also include backward directions. That means a word can run from right to left, from bottom to top, or diagonally in reverse. Always check the puzzle instructions to know which directions are used.

Tips for beginners

Start with the longest words first. They are usually easier to spot because they take up more space in the grid. After you find the long words, the grid gets less crowded and the short words become easier to pick out.

Look for uncommon letters. If a word starts with Q, X, or Z, scan the grid for that letter first. There will not be many of them, so you narrow down your search fast.

Work through the word list in order. Do not jump around. Pick a word, find it, cross it off, and move on. This keeps you organized and you will not miss any.

Use a pen or highlighter. Circling words with a colored pen makes them stand out. It also helps you see which letters in the grid are already used, so you do not confuse them with leftover letters.

How long does a word search take?

A small puzzle (10 by 10 grid with 10 words) takes most people about 5 to 10 minutes. A medium puzzle (15 by 15 with 20 words) might take 15 to 20 minutes. A large or giant puzzle (20 by 20 or bigger) can take 30 minutes or more, depending on how many backward or diagonal words it uses.

There is no time limit on a word search unless you set one yourself. Most people solve them at their own pace. That is part of what makes them relaxing.

Ready to try one?

Grab a free printable puzzle and put these rules to work. Or if you want to learn some faster solving techniques, check out our word search strategies page.