It's a long story

Latest answer — July 09, 2026

35 Down

Think of a tale that’s grand in scope and often includes heroic deeds! 📖

Scroll down for rest of crossword answers

NYT Crossword

This clue's Thursday, July 09, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1In vogue
  2. 5Seal hunter
  3. 9Some rudiments to be learned
  4. 13Flex time?
  5. 14Stern
  6. 15Container for peaches
  7. 17*Honeybunch
  8. 19Group of spellers?
  9. 20Title in "Beowulf"
  10. 21Back-to-basics regimen
  11. 23Grp. of peacekeepers
  12. 25*Afternoon socials
  13. 26Caddies, in golf slang
  14. 29Part of a blind
  15. 30Partner of ends
  16. 31Some messages from a road trip, in brief
  17. 33Scare off
  18. 37Many a golden parachute recipient, in brief
  19. 38Renounced ... or a phonetic hint to reading the answers to the starred clues
  20. 40Sanskrit name meaning "extraordinary"
  21. 41Capital close to the confluence of the Red and Black rivers
  22. 43Gaels of the N.C.A.A.
  23. 44Battling
  24. 45Piece of cake
  25. 47Food processor
  26. 49*Worms or flies, often
  27. 53Do some laps
  28. 54Right now
  29. 56___ Hamilton, author of the classic "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes"
  30. 59Sass
  31. 60*___ Beach, Calif.
  32. 62Hit 1977 musical that included Franklin D. Roosevelt as a character
  33. 63Juniors, e.g.
  34. 64Trails
  35. 65"Yikes!"
  36. 66Rowers' workout machines, informally
  37. 67Straddling

Down

  1. 1Anatomical pouch
  2. 2"Star Wars" planet where Luke Skywalker rides a tauntaun
  3. 3Dinosaur named for a lizard tooth
  4. 4Quick timeouts?
  5. 5AAA or B.B.B.
  6. 6Bring in
  7. 7200 milligrams
  8. 8Sketchy activities?
  9. 9Kudo
  10. 10Guys' night out
  11. 11Trivial objection
  12. 12Symbol of strength and solidity
  13. 16Tonsillectomy docs
  14. 18French crown?
  15. 22Wing
  16. 24Hydrox lookalike
  17. 26Lomond, for one
  18. 27Old theaters
  19. 28Show that ends in disarray?
  20. 32Long time follower?
  21. 34Dojo furnishing
  22. 35It's a long story
  23. 36One of the six sluggers on baseball's Murderer's Row
  24. 38Spent
  25. 39"Curly W" team
  26. 42Caucasus region
  27. 44Padmé ___ (mother of Luke and Leia Skywalker)
  28. 46Horned viper
  29. 48Is underwater
  30. 49S.E.C. football powerhouse, informally
  31. 50United
  32. 51Tried to hit a baseball
  33. 52Taste
  34. 55Double-decker checker
  35. 57Benin neighbor
  36. 58Door fastener
  37. 61Jerk

The answer to “It's a long story” in the New York Times crossword is EPIC — a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on July 9, 2026, a Thursday puzzle, at 35-Down. Other answers we've seen for this clue include SAGA. 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.

“It's a long story” answer

EPIC (4 letters) — most recent; also seen as SAGA

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 EPIC.

Why the answer is EPIC

Think of a tale that’s grand in scope and often includes heroic deeds! 📖

What does EPIC mean?

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

(noun)

  • a long poem, typically one derived from ancient oral tradition, narrating the deeds and adventures of heroic or legendary figures or the past history of a nation
  • an exceptionally long and arduous task or activity

Other answers for “It's a long story”

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

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “It's a long story”?

The answer is EPIC, a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on July 9, 2026. Other answers for this clue include SAGA.

How many letters is the answer to “It's a long story”?

4 letters: EPIC. Earlier fills for this clue have also been SAGA (4).

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times crossword on July 9, 2026 (a Thursday puzzle), at 35-Down. Earlier appearances: March 20, 2026 → SAGA; December 19, 2025 → SAGA.

Can “It's a long story” have a different answer?

Yes. Besides EPIC, New York Times has also used SAGA 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 July 9, 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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