Important

Latest answer — September 05, 2026

22 Across

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Clue explained

KEY means important or essential, as in a key fact or key decision.

Clue type:
Definition
A physical key used as a visual symbol of importance

NYT Crossword

This clue's Saturday, September 05, 2026 appearance

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The answer to Important in the New York Times crossword is KEY — a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on September 5, 2026, a Saturday puzzle, at 22-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.

Important” answer

KEY (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 KEY.

What does KEY mean?

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

(noun)

  • a small piece of shaped metal with incisions cut to fit the wards of a particular lock, which is inserted into a lock and turned to open or close it
  • each of several buttons on a panel for operating a computer, typewriter, or telephone
  • a thing that provides a means of achieving or understanding something

When else has “Important” 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.

September 5, 2026 (most recent) KEY. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Important”?

The answer is KEY, a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on September 5, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Important”?

3 letters: KEY.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times crossword on September 5, 2026 (a Saturday puzzle), at 22-Across.

Can “Important” 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 September 5, 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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