Optimists keep them high

Latest answer — September 21, 2026

5 Across

Scroll down for rest of crossword answers

Clue explained

Optimists keep their HOPES high, using the familiar phrase for maintaining a positive outlook. HOPES is the plural noun required by “them.”

Clue type:
Phrase or idiom
A hopeful person looking upward with an optimistic expression.

NYT Mini Crossword

This clue's Monday, September 21, 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. 1Appropriate shoes to wear on moving day?
  2. 5Optimists keep them high
  3. 6Baked entree with a flaky crust
  4. 7Appropriate gas station to find by the beach?
  5. 8Days of old

Down

  1. 1Ballot caster
  2. 2Appropriate store beside a farmer's market?
  3. 3Actor ___ Patrick Harris
  4. 4Opposite of NNW
  5. 5Appropriate snack for Santa?
  6. 6"Gangnam Style" rapper

The answer to “Optimists keep them high” in the New York Times Mini crossword is HOPES — a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Mini crossword on September 21, 2026 at 5-Across. 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.

“Optimists keep them high” answer

HOPES (5 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 HOPES.

What does HOPES mean?

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

(noun)

  • a feeling of expectation and desire for a particular thing to happen
  • a feeling of trust

When else has “Optimists keep them high” 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.

September 21, 2026 (most recent) → HOPES. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Optimists keep them high”?

The answer is HOPES, a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Mini crossword on September 21, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Optimists keep them high”?

5 letters: HOPES.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times Mini crossword on September 21, 2026, at 5-Across.

Can “Optimists keep them high” 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.

Crossword Clues

Looking up a clue? Jump into today's answers and clue help from top puzzles.