Part of a lunch line stack
Latest answer — August 15, 2026
27 Down
Scroll down for rest of crossword answers
Clue decoded
A TRAY can be one of the stackable items in a cafeteria lunch line, used to carry food and drinks. The clue refers to the trays waiting for diners to pick up.
- Clue type:
- Definition
USA Today Crossword
This clue's Saturday, August 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
Down
- 12The 411
Crossword clues, hints, and answers
Across
- 1. Sitting on — Answer: ATOP. Hint: A concise preposition meaning positioned above or upon. 📍
- 5. Tea — Answer: GOSSIP. Hint: In casual conversation, this can mean juicy rumors. ☕
- 11. "Much ___ About Nothing" — Answer: ADO. Hint: This Shakespearean title includes a three-letter word meaning a fuss or commotion. 🎭
- 14. "Beloved" novelist Morrison — Answer: TONI. Hint: Think of the Nobel-winning author behind *Beloved* 📚
- 15. "Wednesday" star Jenna — Answer: ORTEGA. Hint: She plays the morbidly charming teen in a hit Netflix series. 🖤
- 16. Provided a meal for — Answer: FED. Hint: What you did when you supplied someone with dinner. 🍽️
- 17. Nutrient-dense seedlings — Answer: MICROGREENS. Hint: Tiny young plants prized for concentrated nutrients. 🌱
- 19. Letters on many modern Christmas lights — Answer: LED. Hint: These energy-efficient lights are common in modern holiday displays. 💡
- 20. Time off from work that might be used to attend to a newborn — Answer: LEAVE. Hint: Time away from your job can make room for family needs. 👶
- 21. Friend, in French — Answer: AMI. Hint: A casual term for a pal in France. 🤝
- 22. They fly, or make baseballs fly — Answer: BATS. Hint: The same winged creatures and sporting equipment share this name. 🦇
- 23. Bit of ink — Answer: TAT. Hint: A tiny mark made with ink can be called this. 🖋️
- 24. Data used to aid a business — Answer: METRICS. Hint: Quantifiable measures help a company track performance. 📊
- 26. Work boot feature — Answer: STEELTOE. Hint: Protective reinforcement at the front of a sturdy work shoe. 🥾
- 30. "Yikes! A bug!" — Answer: EEK. Hint: A startled exclamation often escapes when something creepy appears. 😱
- 31. 401(k) alternatives — Answer: IRAS. Hint: These retirement accounts offer another route besides an employer plan. 💰
- 32. Small whirlpool — Answer: EDDY. Hint: A current that spins in a small circular whirl. 🌀
- 34. Stop by — Answer: VISIT. Hint: Drop in briefly to see someone or someplace. 👋
- 38. Clothing — Answer: GARB. Hint: A general word for clothes or attire. 👕
- 39. Become ready to eat — Answer: RIPEN. Hint: This is what fruit does as it develops sweetness. 🍎
- 41. Bygone iPod model — Answer: NANO. Hint: A tiny music player once made by Apple. 🎵
- 42. Fabric some erroneously think is a portmanteau of "New York" and "London" — Answer: NYLON. Hint: This synthetic textile is known for strength and smoothness, despite a popular naming myth. 🧵
- 44. "Wasn't me" — Answer: NOTI. Hint: A concise way to deny responsibility. 🙅
- 45. Eye part that controls the pupil — Answer: IRIS. Hint: This colored ring adjusts the opening that lets in light. 👁️
- 46. Resistance unit — Answer: OHM. Hint: The standard unit used to measure electrical resistance. ⚡
- 48. Small crackers introduced in 1987 — Answer: RITZBITS. Hint: Think of a nostalgic 1980s snack made from tiny savory crackers. 🧀
- 50. "Everyone brings a dish" party — Answer: POTLUCK. Hint: At this gathering, guests each contribute food to share. 🍲
- 53. Carnival location — Answer: RIO. Hint: Think of Brazil’s famous city known for exuberant Carnival celebrations. 🎉
- 54. Lean and strong — Answer: WIRY. Hint: Describes someone slender but surprisingly tough. 💪
- 55. Easy tennis shot to return — Answer: LOB. Hint: This high, gently arcing shot gives the opponent plenty of time. 🎾
- 56. Confirm — Answer: ATTEST. Hint: To do this is to confirm something formally. ✅
- 60. Colorful Taylor Swift era — Answer: RED. Hint: This Swift period paired bold color with songs of heartbreak. 💔
- 61. "Help!" and "Rubber Soul," e.g. — Answer: ALBUMTITLES. Hint: These are the names of two Beatles records. 🎶
- 63. Card in a royal flush — Answer: ACE. Hint: This can be the highest card in a straight flush of one suit. ♠️
- 64. Senator Sanders — Answer: BERNIE. Hint: This Vermont politician is famous for his mittens and progressive views. 🧤
- 65. Pig's sound — Answer: OINK. Hint: The familiar noise made by a farmyard swine. 🐷
- 66. ___ capita — Answer: PER. Hint: Think of a common phrase used for measuring averages! 📊
- 67. Balanced state — Answer: STASIS. Hint: A condition of remaining steady without significant change. ⚖️
- 68. Crosstown rival of the Yankees — Answer: METS. Hint: This New York baseball team plays in Queens. ⚾
Down
- 1. Bread box? — Answer: ATM. Hint: What do you call a machine that dispenses cash, often found in bank lobbies? 💵
- 2. Labor — Answer: TOIL. Hint: This means to work hard, often with considerable effort. 💪
- 3. Only a single time — Answer: ONCE. Hint: Use this word for something that happened one time and no more. ☝️
- 4. Popular brand of puffed rice snack — Answer: PIRATESBOOTY. Hint: This snack brand pairs airy rice bites with a swashbuckling theme. 🏴☠️
- 5. Eager sort — Answer: GOGETTER. Hint: This describes someone highly motivated to pursue goals. 🚀
- 6. Surname that sounds like a conjunction — Answer: ORR. Hint: This family name is pronounced like the word linking alternatives. 🔗
- 7. Dish that might also be called bao — Answer: STEAMEDPORKBUNS. Hint: Think fluffy steamed buns filled with savory pork. 🥟
- 8. "Come to my office" — Answer: SEEME. Hint: This is an invitation to stop by for a private chat. 🚪
- 9. Catch fire — Answer: IGNITE. Hint: A candle or campfire does this when it begins burning. 🔥
- 10. ___ de deux (dance duet) — Answer: PAS. Hint: Complete this French ballet phrase meaning a dance for two. 🩰
- 11. Company with a spokesduck — Answer: AFLAC. Hint: Think of the insurance company famous for its quacking mascot. 🦆
- 12. The 411 — Answer: DEETS. Hint: This casual term means the important details or information. 📝
- 13. Ironic things to be even — Answer: ODDS. Hint: These represent chances or probabilities, yet they can be even. 🎲
- 18. Track shape — Answer: OVAL. Hint: Think of the rounded shape you might see on a running track. 🏃
- 22. SpongeBob SquarePants' home — Answer: BIKINIBOTTOM. Hint: Look beneath the sea for this cartoon character’s underwater neighborhood. 🌊
- 25. Go "Vroom!" — Answer: REV. Hint: A driver does this to make an engine roar before speeding off. 🏎️
- 26. The "S" of ASL — Answer: SIGN. Hint: In this abbreviation, the letter refers to a form of hand-based communication. 🤟
- 27. Part of a lunch line stack — Answer: TRAY. Hint: You carry this flat cafeteria item while collecting your meal. 🍽️
- 28. ___ Grey tea — Answer: EARL. Hint: This title comes before the name of a classic citrusy tea. 🍵
- 29. One-eyed Norse god — Answer: ODIN. Hint: Norse mythology gives this powerful figure one eye, ravens, and a spear. ⚔️
- 33. Big name in coolers — Answer: YETI. Hint: This outdoor brand is known for rugged insulated drinkware and coolers. ❄️
- 35. South Asian garment — Answer: SARI. Hint: This elegant wrapped outfit is commonly worn in India and nearby regions. 👗
- 36. Not yet eliminated — Answer: INIT. Hint: A contestant described this way is still in the running. 🏆
- 37. Ring ___ (carnival game) — Answer: TOSS. Hint: Aim for the prize by sending a ring over a target. 🎯
- 40. Additives in some processed meats — Answer: NITRATES. Hint: These preservatives help processed meats keep their color and shelf life. 🥓
- 43. Org. that has the Blues — Answer: NHL. Hint: This professional league awards the Stanley Cup. 🏒
- 47. "Business in the front, party in the back" hairstyle — Answer: MULLET. Hint: This distinctive haircut is short in front and long in back. 💇
- 49. Commonly baked pasta — Answer: ZITI. Hint: This tube-shaped pasta is often baked with sauce and cheese. 🍝
- 50. Jigsaw puzzle component — Answer: PIECE. Hint: It is one interlocking part of the larger picture. 🧩
- 51. Say "I'll have the tomato soup, please" — Answer: ORDER. Hint: You do this when telling a server what you want. 🍲
- 52. Hooded snake — Answer: COBRA. Hint: This venomous snake famously spreads its neck when threatened. 🐍
- 54. Sandwich alternative — Answer: WRAP. Hint: A flatbread folded around fillings offers this handheld option. 🌯
- 57. "Bad Law" author Mystal — Answer: ELIE. Hint: This is the author's first name. ✍️
- 58. In the mail — Answer: SENT. Hint: This describes something that has already been mailed out 📬
- 59. Scolding sounds — Answer: TSKS. Hint: These brief sounds express disapproval. 😒
- 61. Six-pack muscles — Answer: ABS. Hint: These abdominal muscles are prized by fitness enthusiasts. 💪
- 62. Nintendo avatar — Answer: MII. Hint: Nintendo players can create this customizable digital character. 🎮
Recent USA Today Answers
The last 7 days of solutions
The answer to “Part of a lunch line stack” in the USA Today crossword is TRAY — a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the USA Today crossword on August 15, 2026, a Saturday puzzle, at 27-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.
“Part of a lunch line stack” answer
TRAY (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 TRAY.
When else has “Part of a lunch line stack” appeared?
USA Today 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.
August 15, 2026 (most recent) → TRAY. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.
More clues from the USA Today Crossword on August 15, 2026
Stuck elsewhere in the grid? Here are some of the crossing and nearby clues from the same puzzle — tap any for its answer and explanation.
- Work boot feature → STEELTOE
- 401(k) alternatives → IRAS
- Clothing → GARB
- Fabric some erroneously think is a portmanteau of "New York" and "London" → NYLON
- The "S" of ASL → SIGN
- ___ Grey tea → EARL
- Go "Vroom!" → REV
- One-eyed Norse god → ODIN
Want every clue in one place? The full USA Today answer list for August 15, 2026 is on that day's grid page, and today's live USA Today answers are always one tap from the today page.
About the USA Today Crossword
USA Today's daily crossword is a themed, accessible grid with no Monday-to-Saturday difficulty ramp — every day is written to be finishable in one sitting. This page covers a Saturday puzzle. Theme answers and short glue entries trade places in importance; when a theme clue stalls you, a confirmed crossing fill usually breaks it open.
Frequently asked questions
What is the answer to “Part of a lunch line stack”?
The answer is TRAY, a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the USA Today crossword on August 15, 2026.
How many letters is the answer to “Part of a lunch line stack”?
4 letters: TRAY.
When did this clue appear?
Most recently in the USA Today crossword on August 15, 2026 (a Saturday puzzle), at 27-Down.
Can “Part of a lunch line stack” have a different answer?
Yes — USA Today 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 USA Today answers?
The full grid for August 15, 2026 is on the USA Today answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.
Crossword Clues
Looking up a clue? Jump into today's answers and clue help from top puzzles.