Used to be

Latest answer — July 08, 2026

17 Across

Think of how we refer to something in the past! 🕰️

Scroll down for rest of crossword answers

NYT Midi Crossword

This clue's Wednesday, July 08, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1"The Fault in ___ Stars" (2012 book)
  2. 4Relied on
  3. 11"Eureka!"
  4. 12Specialized end-of-life care program
  5. 13Light blue bloom also known as "scorpion grass"
  6. 15Bundle of papers
  7. 16"Rolling in the Deep" singer
  8. 17Used to be
  9. 19Title for a knight
  10. 20Midafternoon coffee after a big lunch, say
  11. 25"And now, without further ___ ..."
  12. 26Sign up for the armed services
  13. 30Fictional plumber who says "It's-a-me!"
  14. 33Flood preventer
  15. 34T-shirt from an older sibling, perhaps
  16. 36Nostalgic songs
  17. 372012 Taylor Swift album whose name is a color
  18. 38Hankerings
  19. 39Golf course measure: Abbr.

Down

  1. 1Galoots
  2. 2"That's not good"
  3. 3Uncommon
  4. 4One's relatives, slangily
  5. 5Decay
  6. 6West Point, in brief
  7. 7Zoomed along
  8. 8Pointy parts of forks
  9. 9Food-poisoning bacteria
  10. 10Discourage
  11. 14Stare
  12. 18"You understand?"
  13. 20Receptionist on "The Office"
  14. 21Top potato-producing state in the U.S.
  15. 22Hard thing to find underwater?
  16. 23"Except maybe ..."
  17. 24Begged
  18. 27Off-white color
  19. 28Used a needle and thread
  20. 29Is disposed (to)
  21. 31Film archaeologist who wears a fedora, familiarly
  22. 32Garfield's canine frenemy
  23. 35"12 Angry ___" (1957 film)

The answer to “Used to be” in the New York Times Midi crossword is WAS — a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Midi crossword on July 8, 2026, a Wednesday puzzle, at 17-Across, and it has also run on 1 earlier date with the same answer. 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.

“Used to be” answer

WAS (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 WAS.

Why the answer is WAS

Think of how we refer to something in the past! 🕰️

When else has “Used to be” 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.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Used to be”?

The answer is WAS, a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Midi crossword on July 8, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Used to be”?

3 letters: WAS.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times Midi crossword on July 8, 2026 (a Wednesday puzzle), at 17-Across. Earlier appearances: May 10, 2026 → WAS.

Can “Used to be” 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 July 8, 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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