One way to start a race ... or a hint to understanding seven clues in this puzzle

Editorially verified for the Oct 15, 2026

55 Across

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A starter pistol used to signal the beginning of a race.

Clue explainedFact checked

To fire blanks is to shoot blank ammunition: the cartridge makes a report but launches no bullet, which can provide a loud start signal for a race. The clue also flags seven other entries as a puzzle hint. “Blanks” suggests something missing, but the exact connection to those entries isn’t clear enough here to state confidently.

Clue type:
Cross-reference

NYT Crossword

This clue's Thursday, October 15, 2026 appearance

Tap a square to reveal a letter.

Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.

Across

  1. 1Creator of Beats Electronics, familiarly
  2. 4Key of Joplin's "Maple Leaf Rag"
  3. 9___ ball
  4. 14Classic cartoon dog with the catchphrase "You eediot!"
  5. 15Prefix with Roman
  6. 16Ancient calculation tools
  7. 17Bygone org. for the Houston Oilers
  8. 18Lacks
  9. 19Her Majesty, for one
  10. 20Sure ___
  11. 23Rogue
  12. 24Frighteningly monstrous sorts
  13. 25More than a chart-topper
  14. 28What "!" is used for, in coding
  15. 32Political rival of Mark Antony
  16. 33Genesis
  17. 34Southern California city with a Spanish name
  18. 36Some undergrad conferrals, in brief
  19. 37Put under ___
  20. 40One who's left, for short?
  21. 41Overzealous fan, in modern slang
  22. 42Paradise
  23. 46Big fuss
  24. 49Make the most of
  25. 51Useful tips for writers?
  26. 53What's close to the bone?
  27. 54Possible translation of "y"
  28. 55One way to start a race ... or a hint to understanding seven clues in this puzzle
  29. 59Clear molding material
  30. 62Aquarium fish with "neon" and "emperor" varieties
  31. 63Ramadan's end
  32. 64Cease ___
  33. 65Have leftovers, say
  34. 66Actor Stephen of "V for Vendetta"
  35. 67Promotes
  36. 68Tempo
  37. 69Foxy

Down

  1. 1___ breathers
  2. 2Asylum seeker
  3. 3Swell
  4. 4Shocked
  5. 5"Metropolitan Life" author Lebowitz
  6. 6In case
  7. 7Possible puberty problem
  8. 8Emblem with an Ojibwe name
  9. 9Hipster of times past
  10. 10Belt with a kimono
  11. 11___ starters
  12. 12Pastry whose name is French for "lightning"
  13. 13Associated with
  14. 21Eavesdrop from afar, maybe
  15. 22When N.Y.C. tourism is typically high
  16. 26Taunt
  17. 27Professor's world
  18. 29Tech co. that was integral to early computer science
  19. 30Bubbles, e.g.
  20. 31"Groovy!"
  21. 35"Hurry!"
  22. 38Proficient
  23. 39Boom sticks?
  24. 40Fills, as a buffet plate
  25. 43Things that might be provided with grace?
  26. 44Book after Lamentations
  27. 45Tabloid that's one of the 10 highest-circulation papers in the U.S.
  28. 46___ place
  29. 47Cantankerous
  30. 48Rover's sound
  31. 50Card that's the source for "blue mana" in Magic: The Gathering
  32. 52Plots
  33. 56Gather from the field
  34. 57Suffix with kitchen
  35. 58Wheel that comes apart easily?
  36. 60Treatment for a bruise
  37. 61Platform for Duck Hunt, in brief

The answer to “One way to start a race ... or a hint to understanding seven clues in this puzzle” in the New York Times crossword is FIREBLANKS — a 10-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on October 15, 2026, a Thursday puzzle, at 55-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.

“One way to start a race ... or a hint to understanding seven clues in this puzzle” answer

FIREBLANKS (10 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 FIREBLANKS.

When else has “One way to start a race ... or a hint to understanding seven clues in this puzzle” 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 15, 2026 (most recent) → FIREBLANKS. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “One way to start a race ... or a hint to understanding seven clues in this puzzle”?

The answer is FIREBLANKS, a 10-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on October 15, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “One way to start a race ... or a hint to understanding seven clues in this puzzle”?

10 letters: FIREBLANKS.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times crossword on October 15, 2026 (a Thursday puzzle), at 55-Across.

Can “One way to start a race ... or a hint to understanding seven clues in this puzzle” 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 15, 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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