Shapes of rainbows

Latest answer — August 10, 2026

6 Down

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Clue decoded

Rainbows have curved, bowlike shapes, or ARCS, when viewed across the sky. The plural matches the clue’s plural wording.

Clue type:
Definition
A rainbow forming a curved arc across the sky.

NYT Midi Crossword

This clue's Monday, August 10, 2026 appearance

Tap a square to reveal a letter.

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

Across

  1. 1List-shortening abbreviation
  2. 5Chinese chairman
  3. 8Nicki ___, "Super Bass" rapper
  4. 10Party-sized coffee vessel
  5. 112020s crime drama set in Japan
  6. 13Romantic partners
  7. 14Morning talk show since 1997
  8. 16___ Park, geographical name in Chicago and London
  9. 17Not quite right
  10. 20Big moment for a diva
  11. 23"Get my point now?!"
  12. 24More ill-mannered
  13. 25Spain, on World Cup scoreboards
  14. 26Device on which you might watch 11- and 14-Across, appropriately

Down

  1. 1Ambulance worker, for short
  2. 2Spanish for "uncle"
  3. 3Like snow after after a storm, perhaps
  4. 4Break between two legs of travel
  5. 5Bay Area forest named for an environmentalist
  6. 6Shapes of rainbows
  7. 7Atomic number of hydrogen
  8. 9Rock's Jon Bon ___
  9. 12Pattern of flying geese
  10. 14"___ were the days"
  11. 15Heavily promotes, with "up"
  12. 18Run away
  13. 19Structure made of couch cushions, perhaps
  14. 21"The most intense mode of individualism that the world has known," per Oscar Wilde
  15. 22Chevy Suburban, for one

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. List-shortening abbreviation — Answer: ETAL. Hint: This compact Latin abbreviation means “and others,” trimming a long list. 📝
  2. 5. Chinese chairman — Answer: MAO. Hint: Think of the revolutionary leader who guided China’s Communist Party in the mid-20th century. 🧭
  3. 8. Nicki ___, "Super Bass" rapper — Answer: MINAJ. Hint: This rapper also made waves with “Starships” and “Anaconda.” 🎤
  4. 10. Party-sized coffee vessel — Answer: URN. Hint: Think of the large container that keeps coffee flowing for a crowd at a gathering ☕
  5. 11. 2020s crime drama set in Japan — Answer: TOKYOVICE. Hint: This gritty series follows an American journalist navigating Tokyo’s underworld in the 1990s 🗞️
  6. 13. Romantic partners — Answer: LOVERS. Hint: These couples share affection and a special bond. ❤️
  7. 14. Morning talk show since 1997 — Answer: THEVIEW. Hint: This daytime panel show is known for lively debates and rotating cohosts. 📺
  8. 16. ___ Park, geographical name in Chicago and London — Answer: HYDE. Hint: Think of the famous green space whose name appears in both Chicago and London. 🌳
  9. 17. Not quite right — Answer: OFF. Hint: A fitting way to describe something that’s slightly askew. 🛠️
  10. 20. Big moment for a diva — Answer: OPERASOLO. Hint: A leading singer may seize the spotlight for this showstopping vocal feature 🎭
  11. 23. "Get my point now?!" — Answer: SEE. Hint: This three-letter verb can mean to understand or perceive with your eyes. 👀
  12. 24. More ill-mannered — Answer: RUDER. Hint: A comparative way to describe someone becoming less polite. 😬
  13. 25. Spain, on World Cup scoreboards — Answer: ESP. Hint: Look for the three-letter country abbreviation used for this nation in international soccer results ⚽
  14. 26. Device on which you might watch 11- and 14-Across, appropriately — Answer: TVSET. Hint: Think of the household screen that brings shows and broadcasts into your living room 📺

Down

  1. 1. Ambulance worker, for short — Answer: EMT. Hint: This emergency responder’s title is often shortened to three letters 🚑
  2. 2. Spanish for "uncle" — Answer: TIO. Hint: A familiar Spanish family term for your mother’s or father’s brother. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦
  3. 3. Like snow after after a storm, perhaps — Answer: ANKLEDEEP. Hint: Describes snow deep enough to reach your feet and lower legs. ❄️
  4. 4. Break between two legs of travel — Answer: LAYOVER. Hint: A brief stop where you change planes or pause before continuing your journey ✈️
  5. 5. Bay Area forest named for an environmentalist — Answer: MUIRWOODS. Hint: Think of the Bay Area’s famous redwood grove honoring a celebrated conservationist 🌲
  6. 6. Shapes of rainbows — Answer: ARCS. Hint: Think of the curved forms you see stretching across the sky after a shower 🌈
  7. 7. Atomic number of hydrogen — Answer: ONE. Hint: Think of hydrogen’s place at the very beginning of the periodic table 🔬
  8. 9. Rock's Jon Bon ___ — Answer: JOVI. Hint: Think of the New Jersey rocker behind “Livin’ on a Prayer.” 🎸
  9. 12. Pattern of flying geese — Answer: VEE. Hint: Picture the formation birds use when soaring together through the sky 🪿
  10. 14. "___ were the days" — Answer: THOSE. Hint: A nostalgic phrase points to days in the distant past. 🕰️
  11. 15. Heavily promotes, with "up" — Answer: HYPES. Hint: It means to promote something with lots of excitement, often paired with “up.” 🚀
  12. 18. Run away — Answer: FLEE. Hint: Make a quick escape from danger or trouble. 🏃
  13. 19. Structure made of couch cushions, perhaps — Answer: FORT. Hint: A cozy hideaway you might build during a living-room adventure 🏰
  14. 21. "The most intense mode of individualism that the world has known," per Oscar Wilde — Answer: ART. Hint: Wilde saw this creative pursuit as individualism pushed to its limit 🎨
  15. 22. Chevy Suburban, for one — Answer: SUV. Hint: It’s a roomy vehicle built to carry people and gear 🚙

Recent NYT Midi Answers

The last 7 days of solutions

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The answer to “Shapes of rainbows” in the New York Times Midi crossword is ARCS — a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Midi crossword on August 10, 2026 at 6-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.

“Shapes of rainbows” answer

ARCS (4 letters)

Use the reveal tiles above to uncover the solution one letter at a time if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Prefer the full answer straight away? It's ARCS.

When else has “Shapes of rainbows” 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 10, 2026 (most recent) → ARCS. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

More NYT Midi answers for August 10, 2026

Stuck on more than one square? Here's every other clue from the NYT Midi on August 10, 2026 — tap any clue for its answer and explanation.

Across

Down

Want the whole grid in one place? The full NYT Midi answer list for August 10, 2026 is on the puzzle's answers page, and today's live NYT Midi answers are always one click away from the today page.

About the NYT Midi Crossword

The New York Times Midi is the mid-size daily puzzle between the Mini and the full crossword — typically a 7×7 grid that still rewards quick pattern recognition. Because the Midi is compact, one stubborn clue can jam the whole solve, which is why a confirmed answer and a short explanation help most when you're stuck on a single square.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Shapes of rainbows”?

The answer is ARCS, a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Midi crossword on August 10, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Shapes of rainbows”?

4 letters: ARCS.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times Midi crossword on August 10, 2026, at 6-Down.

Can “Shapes of rainbows” 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 today's NYT Midi answers?

Every clue and answer from that day's puzzle is linked above, and the full grid is on the NYT Midi answers page.

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