Shift or tab, say

Latest answer — September 20, 2026

36 Down

Scroll down for rest of crossword answers

Clue explained

A shift or tab is a type of computer KEY, specifically one that performs a control or navigation function rather than typing a letter. “Say” indicates that these are examples of the category.

Clue type:
Example
A computer keyboard with the Shift and Tab keys visible.

WSJ Crossword

This clue's Sunday, September 20, 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. 1Basketball tries
  2. 6Criminal, in cop slang
  3. 10Nada
  4. 13Saw the sights
  5. 15Shallowest Great Lake
  6. 16Letters at the end of a college email address
  7. 17Punctual
  8. 18Pretend to know important people
  9. 20Bride’s promise
  10. 21Come up with a scheme
  11. 23Cello’s cousin
  12. 24Like some colas
  13. 28___ Major (constellation)
  14. 29Pot topper
  15. 30Used to be
  16. 33Winter neck warmer
  17. 36Joke around
  18. 37Dollar division
  19. 38Tax inequity for joint filers
  20. 42Love-a-thon
  21. 43Install, as carpeting
  22. 44Pointing finger
  23. 45Earth: Prefix
  24. 46Daughter’s brother
  25. 47It may be stored in bits and bytes
  26. 49Ted Danson sitcom about the afterlife
  27. 54“March King” John Philip ___
  28. 57Healthy smoothie ingredient
  29. 58“Weekend Update” co-anchor Michael
  30. 59Chill out, or a hint to the ends of 18-, 24-, 38- and 49-Across
  31. 62Michael of “Better Call Saul”
  32. 64In need of medication
  33. 65Azure or indigo
  34. 66Résumé listing
  35. 67Airport screening org.
  36. 68Knitter’s need
  37. 69Winding, as a road

Down

  1. 1Restrained in response to distress
  2. 2Maker of Civics and Accords
  3. 3No longer stocking
  4. 4Pod or angle starter
  5. 5Marine motto
  6. 6Pasta served “alla vodka”
  7. 7Significant period
  8. 8Basketball net holder
  9. 9Irritated
  10. 10Nada
  11. 11Fan club focus
  12. 12Cocoon’s contents
  13. 14Sandwich sellers
  14. 19Monopoly cube
  15. 22Oscar nominee de Armas
  16. 25Like many house pets
  17. 26Fix up and resell quickly
  18. 27Roller coaster or carousel
  19. 30Fuse together
  20. 31Payment by a poker player
  21. 32“Come Sail Away” band
  22. 33Some urban pollution
  23. 34Be concerned
  24. 35Jason’s ship
  25. 36Shift or tab, say
  26. 37Site with locks
  27. 39Lotion additive
  28. 40Work crew
  29. 41Critiques pettily
  30. 46In disrepair
  31. 47One of Sneezy’s pals
  32. 48Second or sixth U.S. president
  33. 49Tongue-clicking sound
  34. 50Like an old bucket in a poem
  35. 51Fast train between Washington and Boston
  36. 52Hopscotch need
  37. 53Itty-bitty
  38. 54Comedy sketch
  39. 55Paints for Picasso
  40. 56The Bruins’ sch.
  41. 60Chicken-king connection
  42. 61Nasty pooch
  43. 63Relatives

The answer to “Shift or tab, say” in the Wall Street Journal crossword is KEY — a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the Wall Street Journal crossword on September 20, 2026, a Sunday puzzle, at 36-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.

“Shift or tab, say” answer

KEY (3 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 KEY.

What does KEY mean?

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

(noun)

  • a small piece of shaped metal with incisions cut to fit the wards of a particular lock, which is inserted into a lock and turned to open or close it
  • each of several buttons on a panel for operating a computer, typewriter, or telephone
  • a thing that provides a means of achieving or understanding something

When else has “Shift or tab, say” appeared?

Wall Street Journal 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 20, 2026 (most recent) → KEY. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Shift or tab, say”?

The answer is KEY, a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the Wall Street Journal crossword on September 20, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Shift or tab, say”?

3 letters: KEY.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the Wall Street Journal crossword on September 20, 2026 (a Sunday puzzle), at 36-Down.

Can “Shift or tab, say” have a different answer?

Yes — Wall Street Journal 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 WSJ answers?

The full grid for September 20, 2026 is on the WSJ answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

Wall Street Journal Crossword is published by The Wall Street Journal; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.

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