Not busy

Latest answer — September 10, 2026

18 Down

Scroll down for rest of crossword answers

Clue explained

FREE means not busy or otherwise unoccupied, matching the clue’s concise adjective.

Clue type:
Definition
An open calendar with no appointments

NYT Crossword

This clue's Thursday, September 10, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1TikTok stars, to many
  2. 6Locale for an old flame?
  3. 10Shell in the water
  4. 14December air
  5. 15Who's that woman in Paris?
  6. 16Red-haired outdoorsman in Genesis
  7. 17Per_w_nkle?
  8. 19Rider's line
  9. 20Raison d'___
  10. 21Holding liable
  11. 23More apt to cut in line, say
  12. 26Keep from leaving port through low visibility
  13. 27New Year's date, concisely
  14. 28Simulator of coastal phenomena
  15. 31Cleared of dust, say
  16. 32Targets for hawks
  17. 33Literary name that's a letter short of its holder's occupation
  18. 34Proc_dur_?
  19. 38Horror director Aster
  20. 39Starting points of many Jewish observances
  21. 40Dull and dim
  22. 41Abstract
  23. 44Oldest sister on "The Brady Bunch"
  24. 45Bad spelling, perhaps
  25. 46Ground-dwelling game bird of the western U.S.
  26. 47Portmanteau for a radical environmentalist
  27. 49["Your fly is open"]
  28. 50Choo-choo noise
  29. 51Grou_ of _or_oises?
  30. 56Dance done in concentric circles
  31. 57Leaves for drinks
  32. 58Construction site sight
  33. 59Decides to take part, with "in"
  34. 60Skin-care brand with a "cheer"-ful sounding name
  35. 61Filler akin to "like ..." or "I mean ..."

Down

  1. 1Winter coat?
  2. 2Word with trader or tripper
  3. 3Something you might search for in vein?
  4. 4Despair
  5. 5Find a spot for, as on a schedule
  6. 6Utah's ___ State University
  7. 7Laid up
  8. 8Grooved parts of golf irons
  9. 9Go *clunk*
  10. 10Solitary sort
  11. 11Min_sc_le q_antity?
  12. 12Reposed
  13. 13Pipe organ?
  14. 18Not busy
  15. 22Season
  16. 23Represent
  17. 24Incautious
  18. 25Pla_e for a _ase?
  19. 28Supplies for a diaper change
  20. 29Annoying knuckling
  21. 30Like 29 winners in the first 50 New York City Marathons
  22. 32Rotating feature at the cinema
  23. 35Take responsibility for, in a way
  24. 36Pitching staff?
  25. 37Evidence of burning rubber
  26. 42Release volatile compounds to the air
  27. 43Vent opening?
  28. 44When doubled, Hawaiian for "very strong"
  29. 46Irreverent
  30. 47Say again
  31. 48Dice, e.g.
  32. 52Remote power source
  33. 53Completely savage
  34. 54Middle name shared by Sean and John Lennon
  35. 55Ground water?

The answer to “Not busy” in the New York Times crossword is FREE — a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on September 10, 2026, a Thursday puzzle, at 18-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.

“Not busy” answer

FREE (4 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 FREE.

What does FREE mean?

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

(adjective)

  • able to act or be done as one wishes; not under the control of another
  • not or no longer confined or imprisoned
  • not subject to engagements or obligations

When else has “Not busy” 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 10, 2026 (most recent) → FREE. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Not busy”?

The answer is FREE, a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on September 10, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Not busy”?

4 letters: FREE.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times crossword on September 10, 2026 (a Thursday puzzle), at 18-Down.

Can “Not busy” 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 10, 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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