Comes in first

Editorially verified for the Oct 18, 2026

4 Down

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A runner crosses a finish line ahead of the other competitors.

Clue explained

Someone who comes in first in a race or contest wins. The clue uses “comes in first” to describe taking the top place, rather than simply arriving before someone else.

Clue type:
Definition

NYT Mini Crossword

This clue's Sunday, October 18, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1Harmless lie
  2. 4Hard guy to find in a crowd?
  3. 6Milan's land
  4. 7Facial features missing from most emojis
  5. 8Texter's "Wow ... just wow"

Down

  1. 1News ___
  2. 2Not doing anything
  3. 3They're "back in town," in a 1970s rock hit
  4. 4Comes in first
  5. 5Tiny thing to split

The answer to “Comes in first” in the New York Times Mini crossword is WINS — a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Mini crossword on October 18, 2026 at 4-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.

“Comes in first” answer

WINS (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 WINS.

What does WINS mean?

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

(verb)

  • be successful or victorious in (a contest or conflict)
  • acquire or secure as a result of a contest, conflict, bet, or other endeavour
  • dry (hay) by exposure to the air

When else has “Comes in first” appeared?

New York Times Mini 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.

October 18, 2026 (most recent) → WINS. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Comes in first”?

The answer is WINS, a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Mini crossword on October 18, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Comes in first”?

4 letters: WINS.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times Mini crossword on October 18, 2026, at 4-Down.

Can “Comes in first” have a different answer?

Yes — New York Times Mini 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 Mini answers?

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

New York Times Mini 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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