Go back to square one
Editorially verified for the Oct 18, 2026
19 Down
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Clue explainedFact checked
To go back to square one is to start over, or reset. The phrase evokes a board game or process returning to its starting point; “reset” gives that idea in a compact verb.
- Clue type:
- Phrase or idiom
NYT Crossword
This clue's Sunday, October 18, 2026 appearance
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Across
Down
The answer to “Go back to square one” in the New York Times crossword is RESET — a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on October 18, 2026, a Sunday puzzle, at 19-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.
“Go back to square one” answer
RESET (5 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 RESET.
What does RESET mean?
Reading the plain dictionary sense of RESET is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.
(verb)
- set again or differently
When else has “Go back to square one” appeared?
New York Times 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) → RESET. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.
Frequently asked questions
What is the answer to “Go back to square one”?
The answer is RESET, a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on October 18, 2026.
How many letters is the answer to “Go back to square one”?
5 letters: RESET.
When did this clue appear?
Most recently in the New York Times crossword on October 18, 2026 (a Sunday puzzle), at 19-Down.
Can “Go back to square one” have a different answer?
Yes — New York Times 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 Crossword answers?
The full grid for October 18, 2026 is on the NYT Crossword answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.
New York Times 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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