Play pretend

Editorially verified for the Aug 17, 2026

10 Down

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A child pretending to be a character while wearing a costume.

Clue explained

ACT is a verb meaning to pretend or play a role. The clue uses “play” in the sense of performing rather than participating in a game.

Clue type:
Definition

NYT Midi Crossword

This clue's Monday, August 17, 2026 appearance

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Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.

Across

  1. 1Question with an obvious answer
  2. 6Ish
  3. 11Not together
  4. 12Like some specialized committees
  5. 13Miraculous solution to a complicated problem
  6. 15Genre for Dom Dolla and Disclosure, for short
  7. 16"Headphones On" pop star Addison ___
  8. 17"Unfortunately, that's true"
  9. 22Fire (up)
  10. 23In favor of
  11. 25Slow-moving creatures shaped like a fruit
  12. 30Something an influencer might "chase"
  13. 31Participate in a spin class
  14. 32Asks to show ID
  15. 33Like questions in 20 Questions

Down

  1. 1Angry Birds or Candy Crush
  2. 2Apple tablet
  3. 3Underground rock?
  4. 4Diagnostic scan, for short
  5. 5"You get the idea"
  6. 6Hawaiian island that's home to Polihale State Park
  7. 7Did nothing
  8. 8Org. for Ducks and Penguins
  9. 9Bambi's mom, for one
  10. 10Play pretend
  11. 14Praise for a diva
  12. 18Impostor
  13. 19Has a flat, perhaps?
  14. 20Potatoes, by another name
  15. 21Brain, but not mind
  16. 24Capital of Norway
  17. 25Email discreetly
  18. 26___ carte menu
  19. 27Neither's partner
  20. 28Mole, for one
  21. 29Second-most-common Korean surname (after Kim)

The answer to “Play pretend” in the New York Times Midi crossword is ACT — a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Midi crossword on August 17, 2026, a Monday puzzle, at 10-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.

“Play pretend” answer

ACT (3 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 ACT.

What does ACT mean?

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

(verb)

  • take action; do something
  • behave in the way specified
  • take effect; have a particular effect

When else has “Play pretend” appeared?

New York Times Midi 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 17, 2026 (most recent) → ACT. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Play pretend”?

The answer is ACT, a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Midi crossword on August 17, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Play pretend”?

3 letters: ACT.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times Midi crossword on August 17, 2026 (a Monday puzzle), at 10-Down.

Can “Play pretend” have a different answer?

Yes — New York Times Midi 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 NYT Midi answers?

The full grid for August 17, 2026 is on the NYT Midi answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

New York Times Midi Crossword is published by The New York Times; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.

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