Picks up the pace

Editorially verified for the Aug 26, 2026

24 Down

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A runner accelerating on a track.

Clue explained

HASTENS is the third-person singular verb meaning “picks up the pace” or makes something happen more quickly. The -S ending matches the singular subject implied by the clue.

Clue type:
Word form

LA Times Crossword

This clue's Wednesday, August 26, 2026 appearance

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The answer to “Picks up the pace” in the LA Times crossword is HASTENS — a 7-letter word. It most recently appeared in the LA Times crossword on August 26, 2026, a Wednesday puzzle, at 24-Down. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.

“Picks up the pace” answer

HASTENS (7 letters)

Reveal the solution one letter at a time with the tiles above if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Just want it outright? The answer is HASTENS.

What does HASTENS mean?

Reading the plain dictionary sense of HASTENS is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.

(verb)

  • be quick to do something

When else has “Picks up the pace” appeared?

LA Times reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.

August 26, 2026 (most recent) → HASTENS. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Picks up the pace”?

The answer is HASTENS, a 7-letter word. It most recently appeared in the LA Times crossword on August 26, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Picks up the pace”?

7 letters: HASTENS.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the LA Times crossword on August 26, 2026 (a Wednesday puzzle), at 24-Down.

Can “Picks up the pace” have a different answer?

Yes — LA Times sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of this day's LA Times answers?

The full grid for August 26, 2026 is on the LA Times answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

LA Times Crossword is published by Los Angeles Times; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.

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