It's a choice

Crossword Answer — May 13, 2025

Answer

NYT Crossword

Tuesday, May 13, 2025

By Joe Rodini

Tap a square to reveal a letter.

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

NYT Crossword Clues

Across

  1. 1Gremlins and Pacers of old autodom
  2. 5Playful prank
  3. 10Includes on an email, in brief
  4. 13Jamie of TV's "M*A*S*H"
  5. 14Die down
  6. 15Guitarist Clapton
  7. 17Ladled party drink
  8. 19Dalai ___
  9. 20Use a scope
  10. 21Voting against
  11. 22"You can stop explaining"
  12. 24To-do pile's place
  13. 26The Midwest states, agriculturally speaking
  14. 28Came back from a deficit
  15. 31Princess's torment in a classic fairy tale
  16. 32___ Speedwagon
  17. 33One of a salty septet
  18. 34Blanket draping a mountain at dawn
  19. 36Oscar winner Spacek
  20. 38Cafeteria shout that might provoke the moves at 17-, 26-, 54- and 64-Across?
  21. 41Proctor's cue
  22. 44Roger Rabbit or Bugs Bunny, e.g.
  23. 45Circle section
  24. 48In the style of
  25. 49Wall St. debut
  26. 51Kind of family
  27. 54Bone-in cut whose name became an endearment
  28. 57Many-headed monster of myth
  29. 58Non-mono, say
  30. 59"Superberry" of South America
  31. 62Voting against
  32. 63Personal shopper, e.g.
  33. 64Bright yellow creature that moves about 6.5 inches per minute
  34. 67Castle defense
  35. 68Like noble gases
  36. 69Carefree feeling
  37. 70Co. behind the "Book Review" podcast
  38. 71Bewilder
  39. 72"Two pools of light, a mirror bright," in generative A.I. poetry

Down

  1. 1Shindig
  2. 2Sites for lots of yachts
  3. 3Fall apart, as a cookie
  4. 4___ Lanka
  5. 5Skipper, informally
  6. 6Lie next to
  7. 7Cold sweat
  8. 8Series-ending abbr.
  9. 9Bring back from a furlough
  10. 10Center of a paparazzi swarm
  11. 11Lunar landscape features
  12. 12"Fresh as a daisy" and "strong as an oak"
  13. 16Laser pointer or ball of yarn
  14. 18Vehicle that's hailed
  15. 23Grind, as one's teeth
  16. 25King in Norway's Fairhair dynasty
  17. 27It's a choice
  18. 29Like Dashboard Confessional's music
  19. 30Possible response to "Nuh-uh!"
  20. 35West Coast air hub
  21. 37European country where the Renaissance started
  22. 39How crab legs may be served
  23. 40African animal with horns
  24. 41Aromatic fir
  25. 42Rapture
  26. 43Time for a tailgate party
  27. 46Court surface at the French Open
  28. 47Go on a pub crawl, say
  29. 50What exposure therapy may treat
  30. 52___ Pet
  31. 53Stoves
  32. 55George ___, M.L.B. player with batting titles in three different decades
  33. 56Like windows
  34. 60Sagan of astronomy
  35. 61Feed the kitty
  36. 65"Your point being?"
  37. 66Get it

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Gremlins and Pacers of old autodom — Answer: AMCS
  2. 5. Playful prank — Answer: CAPER
  3. 10. Includes on an email, in brief — Answer: CCS
  4. 13. Jamie of TV's "M*A*S*H" — Answer: FARR
  5. 14. Die down — Answer: ABATE
  6. 15. Guitarist Clapton — Answer: ERIC
  7. 17. Ladled party drink — Answer: FRUITPUNCH
  8. 19. Dalai ___ — Answer: LAMA. Hint: This spiritual leader is often associated with Tibet and wisdom. 🧘‍♂️
  9. 20. Use a scope — Answer: AIM
  10. 21. Voting against — Answer: ANTI
  11. 22. "You can stop explaining" — Answer: IGETIT
  12. 24. To-do pile's place — Answer: INBOX
  13. 26. The Midwest states, agriculturally speaking — Answer: CORNBELT
  14. 28. Came back from a deficit — Answer: RALLIED
  15. 31. Princess's torment in a classic fairy tale — Answer: PEA
  16. 32. ___ Speedwagon — Answer: REO
  17. 33. One of a salty septet — Answer: SEA
  18. 34. Blanket draping a mountain at dawn — Answer: MIST
  19. 36. Oscar winner Spacek — Answer: SISSY
  20. 38. Cafeteria shout that might provoke the moves at 17-, 26-, 54- and 64-Across? — Answer: FOODFIGHT
  21. 41. Proctor's cue — Answer: BEGIN
  22. 44. Roger Rabbit or Bugs Bunny, e.g. — Answer: TOON
  23. 45. Circle section — Answer: ARC
  24. 48. In the style of — Answer: ALA
  25. 49. Wall St. debut — Answer: IPO
  26. 51. Kind of family — Answer: NUCLEAR
  27. 54. Bone-in cut whose name became an endearment — Answer: LAMBCHOP
  28. 57. Many-headed monster of myth — Answer: HYDRA
  29. 58. Non-mono, say — Answer: STEREO
  30. 59. "Superberry" of South America — Answer: ACAI
  31. 62. Voting against — Answer: CON
  32. 63. Personal shopper, e.g. — Answer: AIDE
  33. 64. Bright yellow creature that moves about 6.5 inches per minute — Answer: BANANASLUG
  34. 67. Castle defense — Answer: MOAT
  35. 68. Like noble gases — Answer: INERT
  36. 69. Carefree feeling — Answer: EASE
  37. 70. Co. behind the "Book Review" podcast — Answer: NYT
  38. 71. Bewilder — Answer: ADDLE
  39. 72. "Two pools of light, a mirror bright," in generative A.I. poetry — Answer: EYES

Down

  1. 1. Shindig — Answer: AFFAIR
  2. 2. Sites for lots of yachts — Answer: MARINAS
  3. 3. Fall apart, as a cookie — Answer: CRUMBLE
  4. 4. ___ Lanka — Answer: SRI
  5. 5. Skipper, informally — Answer: CAPN
  6. 6. Lie next to — Answer: ABUT
  7. 7. Cold sweat — Answer: PANIC
  8. 8. Series-ending abbr. — Answer: ETC
  9. 9. Bring back from a furlough — Answer: REHIRE
  10. 10. Center of a paparazzi swarm — Answer: CELEB
  11. 11. Lunar landscape features — Answer: CRATERS
  12. 12. "Fresh as a daisy" and "strong as an oak" — Answer: SIMILES
  13. 16. Laser pointer or ball of yarn — Answer: CATTOY
  14. 18. Vehicle that's hailed — Answer: TAXI
  15. 23. Grind, as one's teeth — Answer: GNASH
  16. 25. King in Norway's Fairhair dynasty — Answer: OLAFI
  17. 27. It's a choice — Answer: OPTION
  18. 29. Like Dashboard Confessional's music — Answer: EMO
  19. 30. Possible response to "Nuh-uh!" — Answer: DIDTOO
  20. 35. West Coast air hub — Answer: SFO
  21. 37. European country where the Renaissance started — Answer: ITALY
  22. 39. How crab legs may be served — Answer: ONICE
  23. 40. African animal with horns — Answer: GNU
  24. 41. Aromatic fir — Answer: BALSAM
  25. 42. Rapture — Answer: ELATION
  26. 43. Time for a tailgate party — Answer: GAMEDAY
  27. 46. Court surface at the French Open — Answer: REDCLAY
  28. 47. Go on a pub crawl, say — Answer: CAROUSE
  29. 50. What exposure therapy may treat — Answer: PHOBIA
  30. 52. ___ Pet — Answer: CHIA
  31. 53. Stoves — Answer: RANGES
  32. 55. George ___, M.L.B. player with batting titles in three different decades — Answer: BRETT
  33. 56. Like windows — Answer: PANED
  34. 60. Sagan of astronomy — Answer: CARL
  35. 61. Feed the kitty — Answer: ANTE
  36. 65. "Your point being?" — Answer: AND
  37. 66. Get it — Answer: SEE

The answer to “It's a choice” in the New York Times crossword is OPTION — a 6-letter word. This clue ran in the New York Times crossword on May 13, 2025, a Tuesday puzzle, at 27-Down. If it's the entry standing between you and a clean grid, that's the word you need — and below you'll find why it fits, plus links to the day's other clues if more than one square is giving you trouble.

“It's a choice” answer

OPTION (6 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 OPTION.

Why the answer is OPTION

OPTION is the 6-letter solution that fits "It's a choice" in the NYT Crossword crossword on May 13, 2025 (27-Down). Use the letter tiles above if you'd rather reveal it one letter at a time.

When else has “It's a choice” 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 before, and what the answer was each time — handy if you landed here from a puzzle on another date.

May 13, 2025 (this puzzle) → OPTION. We haven't indexed an earlier appearance of this exact clue yet.

More clues from the NYT Crossword crossword on May 13, 2025

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.

Want every clue in one place? The full New York Times answer list for May 13, 2025 is on that day's grid page, and today's live NYT Crossword answers are always one tap from the today page.

About the NYT Crossword

The New York Times crossword, edited by Will Shortz, is the most famous daily puzzle in the United States. It runs a 15×15 grid Monday through Saturday and a larger 21×21 grid on Sunday, and its difficulty deliberately ramps through the week: Monday is the most approachable, Saturday the toughest, with Thursday often reserved for a trick or twist like rebus squares. This page covers a Tuesday puzzle. A straight-definition entry is the kind of solid mid-grid answer that anchors the trickier crossings around it. Because the NYT reuses short, crossing-friendly words regularly, seeing them once makes them easier to spot next time.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “It's a choice”?

The answer is OPTION, a 6-letter word. It appeared in the New York Times crossword on May 13, 2025.

How many letters is the answer to “It's a choice”?

6 letters: OPTION.

Where did this clue appear?

In the New York Times crossword on May 13, 2025 (a Tuesday puzzle), at 27-Down.

Can “It's a choice” 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 May 13, 2025 is on the NYT Crossword answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

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