Certain something

Latest answer — November 25, 2025

31 Across

Scroll down for rest of crossword answers

NYT Crossword

This clue's Tuesday, November 25, 2025 appearance

Tap a square to reveal a letter.

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

Across

  1. 1Motown legend Lionel
  2. 7Canadian gas brand
  3. 11Follower of Mac or Go in commercial names
  4. 14Totally absorbed
  5. 15Classic ingredient in baby powder
  6. 16Ingredient in a Tom Collins
  7. 17Sorcery commonly associated with Haiti and New Orleans
  8. 19Dined
  9. 20U.K. : H.M.R.C. :: U.S.A. : ___
  10. 21Molecule containing adenine, thymine, guanine and cytosine
  11. 22Aid in tracking wildlife
  12. 24Actor Buddy of "The Beverly Hillbillies"
  13. 26Extra barrier to protect a house from bad weather
  14. 29Flintstone with a red updo
  15. 30#2s in classrooms, for short
  16. 31Certain something
  17. 32Neither winning nor losing
  18. 34Part of a hammer or a hawk
  19. 37Computer's storage space, for short
  20. 38Traditional folk song that became a #1 hit for the Kingston Trio
  21. 41K-pop band that went on hiatus in 2022 when their members went into military service
  22. 44Dance bit
  23. 45The masses, to Caesar
  24. 48Infinitesimal amount
  25. 50Actress Vardalos
  26. 52Like early PC graphics
  27. 54Romantic options for a long-distance relationship
  28. 57Hindu deity known as the "Destroyer"
  29. 58Many, many
  30. 59"As I see it," online
  31. 61Up to, informally
  32. 62"Notorious" Supreme Court justice
  33. 63Engages in a dispiriting online activity ... or what happens in this puzzle's shaded squares?
  34. 67TikTok star Addison ___
  35. 68Burrito bar offering, informally
  36. 69Hun leader who invaded Italy in A.D. 452
  37. 70Surgery sites, for short
  38. 71Fraternal order since 1868
  39. 72Samples, as soup

Down

  1. 1"No" was a famously short one for the 1948 musical "Isn't It Romantic?"
  2. 2Circling the earth
  3. 3In an angry way
  4. 4"I've been ___!" ("I got fooled!")
  5. 5Music players discontinued in 2017
  6. 6English school at which teachers are known as "beaks"
  7. 7Bit of Uber info, for short
  8. 8What an old mattress might do
  9. 9More cunning
  10. 10Philosopher known for his "razor"
  11. 11Organizer of events for swingers?
  12. 12"How We Do (Party)" pop singer
  13. 13Weight of every U.S. bank note
  14. 18Post at sea
  15. 23Food label fig.
  16. 25Send forth
  17. 27Tex-Mex casserole with a crust
  18. 28City where you can see Edvard Munch's "The Scream"
  19. 33Prime meridian hrs.
  20. 35Mont Blanc, e.g.
  21. 36"I mean, I guess ..."
  22. 39Apt letters missing from in_ _ _ _ation
  23. 40Michelle of "Crazy Rich Asians"
  24. 41___ World, DC Comics planet of opposites
  25. 42Lineup of computer icons
  26. 43Iggy Pop's backup group, with "the"
  27. 46Course that may cover Jane Austen and Emily Brontë, for short
  28. 47Spanish city famous for its oranges
  29. 49Invoice fig.
  30. 51Without a warranty
  31. 53Engages in an energetic Latin dance
  32. 55Evade artfully
  33. 56Run ___ of (violate)
  34. 60Exam for future docs
  35. 64Acorn-producing tree
  36. 65Hosts, informally
  37. 66Extra periods, for short

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Motown legend Lionel — Answer: RICHIE
  2. 7. Canadian gas brand — Answer: ESSO
  3. 11. Follower of Mac or Go in commercial names — Answer: PRO
  4. 14. Totally absorbed — Answer: ENRAPT
  5. 15. Classic ingredient in baby powder — Answer: TALC
  6. 16. Ingredient in a Tom Collins — Answer: GIN
  7. 17. Sorcery commonly associated with Haiti and New Orleans — Answer: VOODOOMAGIC
  8. 19. Dined — Answer: ATE. Hint: Had a meal, perhaps with good company 🍽️
  9. 20. U.K. : H.M.R.C. :: U.S.A. : ___ — Answer: IRS
  10. 21. Molecule containing adenine, thymine, guanine and cytosine — Answer: DNA
  11. 22. Aid in tracking wildlife — Answer: EARTAG
  12. 24. Actor Buddy of "The Beverly Hillbillies" — Answer: EBSEN
  13. 26. Extra barrier to protect a house from bad weather — Answer: STORMDOOR
  14. 29. Flintstone with a red updo — Answer: WILMA
  15. 30. #2s in classrooms, for short — Answer: TAS
  16. 31. Certain something — Answer: AURA
  17. 32. Neither winning nor losing — Answer: TYING
  18. 34. Part of a hammer or a hawk — Answer: CLAW
  19. 37. Computer's storage space, for short — Answer: RAM
  20. 38. Traditional folk song that became a #1 hit for the Kingston Trio — Answer: TOMDOOLEY
  21. 41. K-pop band that went on hiatus in 2022 when their members went into military service — Answer: BTS
  22. 44. Dance bit — Answer: STEP
  23. 45. The masses, to Caesar — Answer: PLEBS
  24. 48. Infinitesimal amount — Answer: IOTA
  25. 50. Actress Vardalos — Answer: NIA. Hint: She played Toula in the hit comedy My Big Fat Greek Wedding. 🎬
  26. 52. Like early PC graphics — Answer: LORES
  27. 54. Romantic options for a long-distance relationship — Answer: ZOOMDATES
  28. 57. Hindu deity known as the "Destroyer" — Answer: SHIVA
  29. 58. Many, many — Answer: ALOTOF
  30. 59. "As I see it," online — Answer: IMO
  31. 61. Up to, informally — Answer: TIL. Hint: Think of the breezy shorthand you might use when describing a deadline. ⏳
  32. 62. "Notorious" Supreme Court justice — Answer: RBG
  33. 63. Engages in a dispiriting online activity ... or what happens in this puzzle's shaded squares? — Answer: DOOMSCROLLS
  34. 67. TikTok star Addison ___ — Answer: RAE
  35. 68. Burrito bar offering, informally — Answer: GUAC
  36. 69. Hun leader who invaded Italy in A.D. 452 — Answer: ATTILA
  37. 70. Surgery sites, for short — Answer: ORS
  38. 71. Fraternal order since 1868 — Answer: ELKS
  39. 72. Samples, as soup — Answer: TASTES

Down

  1. 1. "No" was a famously short one for the 1948 musical "Isn't It Romantic?" — Answer: REVIEW
  2. 2. Circling the earth — Answer: INORBIT
  3. 3. In an angry way — Answer: CROSSLY
  4. 4. "I've been ___!" ("I got fooled!") — Answer: HAD
  5. 5. Music players discontinued in 2017 — Answer: IPODNANOS
  6. 6. English school at which teachers are known as "beaks" — Answer: ETON
  7. 7. Bit of Uber info, for short — Answer: ETA
  8. 8. What an old mattress might do — Answer: SAG
  9. 9. More cunning — Answer: SLIER
  10. 10. Philosopher known for his "razor" — Answer: OCCAM
  11. 11. Organizer of events for swingers? — Answer: PGATOUR
  12. 12. "How We Do (Party)" pop singer — Answer: RITAORA
  13. 13. Weight of every U.S. bank note — Answer: ONEGRAM
  14. 18. Post at sea — Answer: MAST
  15. 23. Food label fig. — Answer: RDA
  16. 25. Send forth — Answer: EMIT
  17. 27. Tex-Mex casserole with a crust — Answer: TACOPIE
  18. 28. City where you can see Edvard Munch's "The Scream" — Answer: OSLO
  19. 33. Prime meridian hrs. — Answer: GMT
  20. 35. Mont Blanc, e.g. — Answer: ALP
  21. 36. "I mean, I guess ..." — Answer: WELLSORTA
  22. 39. Apt letters missing from in_ _ _ _ation — Answer: DENT
  23. 40. Michelle of "Crazy Rich Asians" — Answer: YEOH
  24. 41. ___ World, DC Comics planet of opposites — Answer: BIZARRO
  25. 42. Lineup of computer icons — Answer: TOOLBAR
  26. 43. Iggy Pop's backup group, with "the" — Answer: STOOGES
  27. 46. Course that may cover Jane Austen and Emily Brontë, for short — Answer: BRITLIT
  28. 47. Spanish city famous for its oranges — Answer: SEVILLE
  29. 49. Invoice fig. — Answer: AMT
  30. 51. Without a warranty — Answer: ASIS
  31. 53. Engages in an energetic Latin dance — Answer: SALSAS
  32. 55. Evade artfully — Answer: DODGE
  33. 56. Run ___ of (violate) — Answer: AFOUL
  34. 60. Exam for future docs — Answer: MCAT
  35. 64. Acorn-producing tree — Answer: OAK. Hint: A sturdy shade tree that drops acorns. 🌳
  36. 65. Hosts, informally — Answer: MCS
  37. 66. Extra periods, for short — Answer: OTS

Recent NYT Crossword Answers

The last 7 days of solutions

NYT Crossword 24 November 2025NYT Crossword 23 November 2025NYT Crossword 22 November 2025NYT Crossword 21 November 2025NYT Crossword 20 November 2025NYT Crossword 19 November 2025NYT Crossword 18 November 2025

The answer to “Certain something” in the New York Times crossword is AURA — a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on November 25, 2025, a Tuesday puzzle, at 31-Across. Other answers we've seen for this clue include XFACTOR. 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.

“Certain something” answer

AURA (4 letters) — most recent; also seen as XFACTOR

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 AURA.

Why the answer is AURA

AURA is the 4-letter solution that fits "Certain something" in the NYT Crossword crossword on November 25, 2025 (31-Across). Use the letter tiles above if you'd rather reveal it one letter at a time.

Other answers for “Certain something”

New York Times has used this clue with more than one solution. Besides AURA, it has also been XFACTOR. Every appearance we've indexed is listed below with the date it ran.

More clues from the NYT Crossword on November 25, 2025

Stuck elsewhere in the grid? Here are some of the crossing and nearby clues from the same puzzle — tap any for its answer and explanation.

Want every clue in one place? The full New York Times answer list for November 25, 2025 is on that day's grid page, and today's live NYT Crossword answers are always one tap from the today page.

About the NYT Crossword

The New York Times crossword, edited by Will Shortz, is the most famous daily puzzle in the United States. It runs a 15×15 grid Monday through Saturday and a larger 21×21 grid on Sunday, and its difficulty deliberately ramps through the week: Monday is the most approachable, Saturday the toughest, with Thursday often reserved for a trick or twist like rebus squares. This page covers a Tuesday puzzle. A straight-definition entry is the kind of solid mid-grid answer that anchors the trickier crossings around it. Because the NYT reuses short, crossing-friendly words regularly, seeing them once makes them easier to spot next time.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Certain something”?

The answer is AURA, a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on November 25, 2025. Other answers for this clue include XFACTOR.

How many letters is the answer to “Certain something”?

4 letters: AURA. Earlier fills for this clue have also been XFACTOR (7).

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times crossword on November 25, 2025 (a Tuesday puzzle), at 31-Across. Earlier appearances: January 25, 2025 → XFACTOR.

Can “Certain something” have a different answer?

Yes. Besides AURA, New York Times has also used XFACTOR for this clue. Every date and answer is listed above.

Where can I find the rest of this day's NYT Crossword answers?

The full grid for November 25, 2025 is on the NYT Crossword answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

Crossword Clues

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