Lunar cycle part

Latest answer — September 29, 2026

55 Down

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Clue explained

A PHASE is one part or stage of a repeating lunar cycle, such as full moon or crescent. The singular noun fits “part.”

Clue type:
Definition
An educational diagram showing the phases of the Moon

WaPo Crossword

This clue's Tuesday, September 29, 2026 appearance

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

Across

  1. 1Liquefy
  2. 5Lima's country
  3. 9Pokes (around)
  4. 14Fruit with wrinkled skin
  5. 15Greek Cupid
  6. 16Disconnected
  7. 17Mouse catcher
  8. 18"Show us how it's done"
  9. 20Some office subs
  10. 22Wedding declaration
  11. 23Ascend
  12. 24"Quit interfering"
  13. 28Britches, informally
  14. 29Pod filler
  15. 30Part in four-part harmony
  16. 33__ carte menu
  17. 35Car in the Beach Boys' "Fun, Fun, Fun"
  18. 40"Don't stoop to their level"
  19. 44Large deer
  20. 45Contraction that's typically followed by "be"
  21. 46Fails to be
  22. 47Corp. VIP
  23. 50House of Lords title
  24. 52"Perfect for me"
  25. 59Junior staffer
  26. 60Charcoal grill residue
  27. 61City with the Heat and the Hurricanes
  28. 62Informal language, or what 18-, 24-, 40-, and 52-Across are examples of?
  29. 66Out of control
  30. 67"Money __": Netflix crime series
  31. 68Actor Morales
  32. 69"Great" detective of kid-lit
  33. 70Donkeys
  34. 71Credit report category
  35. 72Uno y dos

Down

  1. 1Mixed-breed dogs
  2. 2Everglades wader
  3. 3Woolly pack animal of 5-Across
  4. 4What a child might stand on to watch a parade
  5. 5Get-up-and-go
  6. 6Chapter of history
  7. 7Finnish game developer that created Angry Birds
  8. 8Depleted
  9. 9Casual refusal
  10. 10"Tosca," for one
  11. 11Welcomed at the door
  12. 12Delete
  13. 13Eyelid irritation
  14. 19Dashed
  15. 21Title for Paul McCartney
  16. 25"Hurt Somebody" singer-songwriter Kahan
  17. 26Christmas season
  18. 27Lattice strip
  19. 30Convenience in many cash-only establishments
  20. 31Thai neighbor
  21. 32Boxing ref's ruling, for short
  22. 34Tropical tuna
  23. 36Sparkling
  24. 37iPhone platform
  25. 38Tried to get elected
  26. 39Pesticide in Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring," for short
  27. 41__ support
  28. 42Thing
  29. 43Aussie greeting
  30. 48Coup d'__
  31. 49Removed from power
  32. 51Smash (into)
  33. 52Ceremonial acts
  34. 53Elba of "Cats"
  35. 54Grown goslings
  36. 55Lunar cycle part
  37. 56Rapper Kendrick
  38. 57Act with passion
  39. 58Expression of surprise
  40. 59Girl who befriends a magical star in Disney's "Wish"
  41. 63Sci-fi figures
  42. 64Chem class site
  43. 65Hobby shop purchase

The answer to “Lunar cycle part” in the The Washington Post crossword is PHASE — a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Washington Post crossword on September 29, 2026, a Tuesday puzzle, at 55-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.

“Lunar cycle part” answer

PHASE (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 PHASE.

What does PHASE mean?

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

(noun)

  • a distinct period or stage in a series of events or a process of change or development
  • each of the aspects of the moon or a planet, according to the amount of its illumination, especially the new moon, the first quarter, the full moon, and the last quarter
  • a genetic or seasonal variety of an animal's coloration

When else has “Lunar cycle part” appeared?

The Washington Post 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 29, 2026 (most recent) → PHASE. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Lunar cycle part”?

The answer is PHASE, a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Washington Post crossword on September 29, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Lunar cycle part”?

5 letters: PHASE.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the The Washington Post crossword on September 29, 2026 (a Tuesday puzzle), at 55-Down.

Can “Lunar cycle part” have a different answer?

Yes — The Washington Post 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 WaPo Crossword answers?

The full grid for September 29, 2026 is on the WaPo Crossword answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

The Washington Post Crossword is published by The Washington Post; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.

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