"I was at a crossword tournament when it happened!," e.g.

USA Today Crossword Clue

Crossword Answer

"I was at a crossword tournament when it happened!," e.g.

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Tuesday, July 07, 2026

By Matthew Luter

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USA Today Crossword Clues

Across

  1. 1Opposite of dusk
  2. 5Cotton-tipped tool
  3. 9Throws for a loop
  4. 14Soothing succulent
  5. 15Fruit that might be poached
  6. 16Orange ___ tea
  7. 17Photography gear that can show a flower growing in seconds
  8. 20Prez on the penny
  9. 21D.C. summer hours
  10. 22Distort
  11. 23App with Reels, for short
  12. 25Bay Area university city
  13. 29Curious toddler's question
  14. 30Warring Olympian
  15. 31Animal such as a bonobo
  16. 32Solo that ends on a high note?
  17. 34"___ what ___ . . ."
  18. 35Part of a plan
  19. 36Dessert that's soaked in a trio of dairy products
  20. 39There are two in "Company"
  21. 40Loch with a cryptid
  22. 41Tints
  23. 42___ capita
  24. 43Chess or Go
  25. 44"Let there be light" speaker
  26. 45Unassertive type, metaphorically
  27. 47Come up
  28. 50Quick look
  29. 51"Rhythm ___ Dancer" ('90s hit)
  30. 52Actress Longoria
  31. 54Shamrock
  32. 59___ pan (circular baking tool with a hole)
  33. 60Civil rights icon Parks
  34. 61Fender bender result
  35. 62Pile up
  36. 63Low-quality AI-generated material
  37. 64Laryngitis docs

Down

  1. 1Statistical info
  2. 2"I was at a crossword tournament when it happened!," e.g.
  3. 3"20th Century ___" (Mike Mills film)
  4. 4Word before a birth name
  5. 5Self-care outing
  6. 6Shed tears
  7. 7Versatile batteries
  8. 8Where pilsners are made
  9. 9L.A.'s WNBA team
  10. 10Sun Devils' city
  11. 11Luau instrument, for short
  12. 12Negative conjunction
  13. 13Poseidon's realm
  14. 18"___ Weapon" (action movie franchise)
  15. 19Stroke gently
  16. 24Holey cheese
  17. 25Gift including body wash, a loofah, lotion, etc.
  18. 26Fried Hanukkah treat
  19. 27Some swords
  20. 28"You bet!"
  21. 32Flew in a curved path
  22. 33Like chiptune music
  23. 34Some freezer fixtures
  24. 35___ Arabia
  25. 36Noisy dance style
  26. 37Hardest substance in the human body
  27. 38Composed for a group of singers
  28. 43Welcomes
  29. 44It gets tightened after filling up
  30. 46Hot takes in newspapers
  31. 48"___ Nation Army"
  32. 49Caterer's gig
  33. 51"Should that happen . . ."
  34. 53The "A" of MFA
  35. 54"Details to come" letters
  36. 55Use a kazoo, say
  37. 56Modern vaccine molecule
  38. 57Early ISP
  39. 58Poetic tribute

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Opposite of dusk — Answer: DAWN
  2. 5. Cotton-tipped tool — Answer: SWAB
  3. 9. Throws for a loop — Answer: STUNS
  4. 14. Soothing succulent — Answer: ALOE
  5. 15. Fruit that might be poached — Answer: PEAR
  6. 16. Orange ___ tea — Answer: PEKOE
  7. 17. Photography gear that can show a flower growing in seconds — Answer: TIMELAPSECAMERA
  8. 20. Prez on the penny — Answer: ABE
  9. 21. D.C. summer hours — Answer: EDT
  10. 22. Distort — Answer: WARP
  11. 23. App with Reels, for short — Answer: INSTA
  12. 25. Bay Area university city — Answer: BERKELEY
  13. 29. Curious toddler's question — Answer: WHY
  14. 30. Warring Olympian — Answer: ARES
  15. 31. Animal such as a bonobo — Answer: APE
  16. 32. Solo that ends on a high note? — Answer: ARIA
  17. 34. "___ what ___ . . ." — Answer: ITIS
  18. 35. Part of a plan — Answer: STEP
  19. 36. Dessert that's soaked in a trio of dairy products — Answer: TRESLECHESCAKE
  20. 39. There are two in "Company" — Answer: ACTS
  21. 40. Loch with a cryptid — Answer: NESS
  22. 41. Tints — Answer: HUES
  23. 42. ___ capita — Answer: PER
  24. 43. Chess or Go — Answer: GAME
  25. 44. "Let there be light" speaker — Answer: GOD
  26. 45. Unassertive type, metaphorically — Answer: DOORMAT
  27. 47. Come up — Answer: ARISE
  28. 50. Quick look — Answer: PEEK
  29. 51. "Rhythm ___ Dancer" ('90s hit) — Answer: ISA
  30. 52. Actress Longoria — Answer: EVA
  31. 54. Shamrock — Answer: THREELEAFCLOVER
  32. 59. ___ pan (circular baking tool with a hole) — Answer: BUNDT
  33. 60. Civil rights icon Parks — Answer: ROSA
  34. 61. Fender bender result — Answer: DENT
  35. 62. Pile up — Answer: AMASS
  36. 63. Low-quality AI-generated material — Answer: SLOP
  37. 64. Laryngitis docs — Answer: ENTS

Down

  1. 1. Statistical info — Answer: DATA
  2. 2. "I was at a crossword tournament when it happened!," e.g. — Answer: ALIBI
  3. 3. "20th Century ___" (Mike Mills film) — Answer: WOMEN
  4. 4. Word before a birth name — Answer: NEE
  5. 5. Self-care outing — Answer: SPADAY
  6. 6. Shed tears — Answer: WEPT
  7. 7. Versatile batteries — Answer: AAS
  8. 8. Where pilsners are made — Answer: BREWERIES
  9. 9. L.A.'s WNBA team — Answer: SPARKS
  10. 10. Sun Devils' city — Answer: TEMPE
  11. 11. Luau instrument, for short — Answer: UKE
  12. 12. Negative conjunction — Answer: NOR
  13. 13. Poseidon's realm — Answer: SEA
  14. 18. "___ Weapon" (action movie franchise) — Answer: LETHAL
  15. 19. Stroke gently — Answer: CARESS
  16. 24. Holey cheese — Answer: SWISS
  17. 25. Gift including body wash, a loofah, lotion, etc. — Answer: BATHSET
  18. 26. Fried Hanukkah treat — Answer: LATKE
  19. 27. Some swords — Answer: EPEES
  20. 28. "You bet!" — Answer: YEP
  21. 32. Flew in a curved path — Answer: ARCED
  22. 33. Like chiptune music — Answer: RETRO
  23. 34. Some freezer fixtures — Answer: ICEMAKERS
  24. 35. ___ Arabia — Answer: SAUDI
  25. 36. Noisy dance style — Answer: TAP
  26. 37. Hardest substance in the human body — Answer: ENAMEL
  27. 38. Composed for a group of singers — Answer: CHORAL
  28. 43. Welcomes — Answer: GREETS
  29. 44. It gets tightened after filling up — Answer: GASCAP
  30. 46. Hot takes in newspapers — Answer: OPEDS
  31. 48. "___ Nation Army" — Answer: SEVEN
  32. 49. Caterer's gig — Answer: EVENT
  33. 51. "Should that happen . . ." — Answer: IFSO
  34. 53. The "A" of MFA — Answer: ARTS
  35. 54. "Details to come" letters — Answer: TBA
  36. 55. Use a kazoo, say — Answer: HUM
  37. 56. Modern vaccine molecule — Answer: RNA
  38. 57. Early ISP — Answer: AOL
  39. 58. Poetic tribute — Answer: ODE

The answer to “"I was at a crossword tournament when it happened!," e.g.” in the USA Today crossword is ALIBI — a 5-letter word. This clue ran in the USA Today crossword on July 7, 2026, a Tuesday puzzle, at 2-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.

“"I was at a crossword tournament when it happened!," e.g.” answer

ALIBI (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 ALIBI.

Why the answer is ALIBI

ALIBI is the 5-letter solution that fits ""I was at a crossword tournament when it happened!," e.g." in the USA Today crossword on July 7, 2026 (2-Down). Use the letter tiles above if you'd rather reveal it one letter at a time.

When else has “"I was at a crossword tournament when it happened!," e.g.” 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 before, and what the answer was each time — handy if you landed here from a puzzle on another date.

July 7, 2026 (this puzzle) → ALIBI. We haven't indexed an earlier appearance of this exact clue yet.

More clues from the USA Today crossword on July 7, 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.

Want every clue in one place? The full USA Today answer list for July 7, 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 Tuesday 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 “"I was at a crossword tournament when it happened!," e.g.”?

The answer is ALIBI, a 5-letter word. It appeared in the USA Today crossword on July 7, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “"I was at a crossword tournament when it happened!," e.g.”?

5 letters: ALIBI.

Where did this clue appear?

In the USA Today crossword on July 7, 2026 (a Tuesday puzzle), at 2-Down.

Can “"I was at a crossword tournament when it happened!," e.g.” 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 July 7, 2026 is on the USA Today answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

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