It turns when driven
Editorially verified for the Oct 18, 2026
16 Down
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Clue explainedFact checked
A screw is driven into wood or another material by turning it with a screwdriver or drill. The clue uses “driven” in the construction sense: the screw rotates as its threads bite into the surface.
- Clue type:
- Definition
NYT Crossword
This clue's Sunday, October 18, 2026 appearance
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The answer to “It turns when driven” in the New York Times crossword is SCREW — a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on October 18, 2026, a Sunday puzzle, at 16-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.
“It turns when driven” answer
SCREW (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 SCREW.
What does SCREW mean?
Reading the plain dictionary sense of SCREW is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.
(noun)
- a short, slender, sharp-pointed metal pin with a raised helical thread running round it and a slotted head, used to join things together by being rotated so that it pierces wood or other material and is held tightly in place
- an act of turning a screw or other object having a thread
- an act or instance of having sex
When else has “It turns when driven” 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) → SCREW. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.
Frequently asked questions
What is the answer to “It turns when driven”?
The answer is SCREW, 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 “It turns when driven”?
5 letters: SCREW.
When did this clue appear?
Most recently in the New York Times crossword on October 18, 2026 (a Sunday puzzle), at 16-Down.
Can “It turns when driven” 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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