Portion out
Crossword Answer — July 28, 2026
To portion something out is to give everyone their fair share 🤲
WaPo Crossword
Tuesday, July 28, 2026
By Kevin Shustack · Edited by Patti Varol
Tap a square to reveal a letter.
Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.
Crossword clues, hints, and answers
Across
- 1. Ginger cookie — Answer: SNAP. Hint: A crisp little treat that makes a clean crack when you bite it 🍪
- 5. Cyan shade — Answer: AQUA. Hint: A bright blue-green color that brings to mind tropical waters 🌊
- 9. Oven setting — Answer: BAKE. Hint: A classic way to cook something until it turns golden and delicious 🍞
- 13. Document with an executor — Answer: WILL. Hint: A legal document that names who handles your estate after you’re gone 📜
- 14. Coffee cups — Answer: MUGS. Hint: What you drink your coffee from when you want to keep it cozy ☕
- 15. Speaks foolishly — Answer: JIVES. Hint: Talks in a playful, not-so-serious way 😜
- 16. Drag Defense Fund org. — Answer: ACLU. Hint: A civil-liberties group that often steps in when rights are under fire 🛡️
- 17. Frying liquids — Answer: OILS. Hint: Common kitchen stuff that sizzles in the pan 🫒
- 18. Get down __ knee — Answer: ONONE. Hint: A classic proposal pose includes just one knee on the ground 💍
- 19. "Gravity's Rainbow" novelist — Answer: THOMASPYNCHON. Hint: A famously elusive postmodern novelist who gave us a very long, very trippy war-time epic 📚
- 22. Tuned to, as a radio dial — Answer: SETAT. Hint: Set just right, like a dial finding its station 📻
- 23. Chapel Hill sch. — Answer: UNC. Hint: North Carolina’s big public campus in Chapel Hill 😊
- 24. Art technique also known as French embossing — Answer: GLASSETCHING. Hint: A decorative way to frost or etch glass, often done for a classy effect 🎨
- 32. On the house — Answer: FREE. Hint: Complimentary, like it won’t cost a dime 🎁
- 35. Bert who played the Cowardly Lion — Answer: LAHR. Hint: He brought a famously timid roar to Oz 🎭
- 36. Everglades wading bird — Answer: HERON. Hint: A tall wetland hunter with a spear-like bill 👀
- 37. Chuckle in a DM — Answer: LOL. Hint: A quick laugh typed in private messages 😂
- 38. "That's my intention" — Answer: IPLANTO. Hint: A cheerful way to say you’ve got your next steps all lined up 📋
- 40. Egg cells — Answer: OVA. Hint: Tiny female reproductive cells doing the job of a single egg 🥚
- 41. Photo book — Answer: ALBUM. Hint: A little collection of memories you can flip through 📸
- 43. Et __: and others — Answer: ALIA. Hint: A Latin-flavored phrase used when you’re listing a few examples and leaving the rest implied. 📚
- 44. Med school subj. — Answer: ANAT. Hint: The study of body parts is a big one in medical training 🩺
- 45. Act with chivalry — Answer: BEAGENTLEMAN. Hint: Think polished manners and old-school courtesy in action 🤵
- 48. Energizer size — Answer: AAA. Hint: The classic battery trio that keeps toys humming 🔋
- 49. Stuffed grape leaf — Answer: DOLMA. Hint: A savory little parcel rolled up in vine leaves, often served as a tasty bite 🌿
- 53. Psychological cause of personal failure, or a feature of 19-, 24-, 38-, and 45-Across — Answer: INNERSABOTEUR. Hint: That sneaky inner voice that trips you up is also the theme running through those other clues too 🧠
- 58. Pop icon Lauper — Answer: CYNDI. Hint: Eighties singer with bright hair and a big personality 🎤
- 60. Irish currency — Answer: EURO. Hint: Used across much of Europe, this is the common cash you’d pay with on a Dublin trip 💶
- 61. "Don't __ me, but ... " — Answer: HATE. Hint: A softer way to say “I’m not trying to be rude” fits here 😊
- 62. Diet food phrase — Answer: NOFAT. Hint: What you’d call a snack that’s trying to be extra virtuous 🥗
- 63. MC or Visa alternative — Answer: AMEX. Hint: A different plastic in your wallet for paying the tab 💳
- 64. Like the score at the start of overtime — Answer: EVEN. Hint: Balanced, just as the game resets for extra play ⚖️
- 65. Midday — Answer: NOON. Hint: The sun is at its peak right around this time 😎
- 66. Little bouquet — Answer: POSY. Hint: A tiny handheld bunch of flowers for a sweet gesture 💐
- 67. Take it easy — Answer: REST. Hint: A good way to recover after a long day 😌
Down
- 1. Slaps (at) — Answer: SWATS. Hint: Quick, firm hits at a pesky fly or ball 🏏
- 2. Wall recess — Answer: NICHE. Hint: A cozy little alcove built right into the wall 🧱
- 3. Portion out — Answer: ALLOT. Hint: To portion something out is to give everyone their fair share 🤲
- 4. Bird's feathers — Answer: PLUMAGE. Hint: What gives a bird its stylish outer look? 🪶
- 5. Singer-songwriter Tori — Answer: AMOS. Hint: A piano-loving alt-pop artist with a first name that’s often seen on a cereal box 🕯️
- 6. Witty remark — Answer: QUIP. Hint: A clever little comment that lands fast and funny 😄
- 7. Not easy on the eyes — Answer: UGLY. Hint: More likely to make you wince than admire 😬
- 8. Org. — Answer: ASSN. Hint: Short for an organization, often seen in groups and clubs 📋
- 9. Juliette of "The English Patient" — Answer: BINOCHE. Hint: French actress with a haunting screen presence in a desert war epic 🎬
- 10. Cosmetics giant that started as the California Perfume Company — Answer: AVON. Hint: A beauty brand with roots in door-to-door perfume sales 🌸
- 11. "Jazz" documentarian Burns — Answer: KEN. Hint: The filmmaker behind that sprawling jazz series shares a first name with a very common short one 😄
- 12. WNW's opposite — Answer: ESE. Hint: The compass point you’d find by turning all the way around from west-northwest. 🧭
- 15. Sulu player in recent "Star Trek" films — Answer: JOHNCHO. Hint: The actor who brought Sulu back to the big screen is also known for his role in a wild sci-fi comedy 🚀
- 20. Hartsfield-Jackson airport code — Answer: ATL. Hint: Think of Atlanta’s busy airport shorthand ✈️
- 21. Use scissors on — Answer: CUT. Hint: What you do with paper, fabric, or hair when it needs trimming ✂️
- 25. Swiss peak — Answer: ALP. Hint: A snowy mountain in Switzerland might fit this tiny peak 🏔️
- 26. Ritual prayer of Islam — Answer: SALAT. Hint: Muslims pause for this daily worship routine 🤲
- 27. "We __ Overcome" — Answer: SHALL. Hint: A hopeful promise tucked into a civil rights anthem 😊
- 28. "Ghostbusters" actor Hudson — Answer: ERNIE. Hint: A familiar first name from the team that chased ghosts on screen 👻
- 29. Word after curling or waffle — Answer: IRON. Hint: A hot tool that smooths out wrinkles or makes crisp breakfast treats 🍳
- 30. __ Scotia, Canada — Answer: NOVA. Hint: Think of the word that makes a familiar Canadian province name when placed before Scotia 🌟
- 31. Pest in a cloud — Answer: GNAT. Hint: A tiny flyer that seems to show up in swarms around your face ☁️
- 32. Extra fat — Answer: FLAB. Hint: Soft, jiggly padding you might want to trim down a bit 🫣
- 33. Actor's part to play — Answer: ROLE. Hint: An actor’s assigned bit in the story, not the whole show 🎭
- 34. Actor Idris — Answer: ELBA. Hint: This British actor is known for his roles in both film and TV, often seen as a leading man! 🎬
- 38. "No fooling" — Answer: IMEANIT. Hint: A playful way to say you’re being completely serious 😄
- 39. Scottish cap — Answer: TAM. Hint: A snug little topper you might see on a Highland stroll 🎩
- 42. Kampala native — Answer: UGANDAN. Hint: From the country where Kampala is the capital, with a little hometown pride 🇺🇬
- 44. One more — Answer: ANOTHER. Hint: A fresh one in addition to what you already have 🙂
- 46. "Sorry, laddie" — Answer: NAE. Hint: A Scots way of saying “no,” with a bit of cheek 😏
- 47. Stir — Answer: ADO. Hint: A little commotion can be made without much cause. 🌀
- 50. Depart — Answer: LEAVE. Hint: Head out and make your exit 🚪
- 51. Silences, as on Zoom — Answer: MUTES. Hint: What you do when you want everyone to stop hearing you on a call 🎙️
- 52. "__ you clever!" — Answer: ARENT. Hint: A teasing line of praise that sounds like a compliment, but isn’t quite one 😏
- 53. The 411 — Answer: INFO. Hint: What you’d ask for when you need the details in a hurry 📚
- 54. Gather — Answer: REAP. Hint: Harvest the crop when it’s ready 🌾
- 55. Japanese wrestling — Answer: SUMO. Hint: Big-bodied ring sport where opponents try to push each other out 👊
- 56. Greek war god — Answer: ARES. Hint: This deity is often depicted with a helmet and spear, embodying the spirit of battle. ⚔️
- 57. Like the Honda Element — Answer: BOXY. Hint: Squared-off and roomy, like a compact ride with a very geometric vibe 📦
- 58. "The Source With Kaitlan Collins" network — Answer: CNN. Hint: Cable news outlet behind Kaitlan Collins’s show 📺
- 59. "__-hoo! Over here!" — Answer: YOO. Hint: A playful shout to get someone’s attention across the room 👋
The answer to “Portion out” in the The Washington Post crossword is ALLOT — a 5-letter word. This clue ran in the The Washington Post crossword on July 28, 2026, a Tuesday puzzle, at 3-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.
“Portion out” answer
ALLOT (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 ALLOT.
Why the answer is ALLOT
To portion something out is to give everyone their fair share 🤲
When else has “Portion out” 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 before, and what the answer was each time — handy if you landed here from a puzzle on another date.
July 28, 2026 (this puzzle) → ALLOT. We haven't indexed an earlier appearance of this exact clue yet.
More clues from the WaPo Crossword crossword on July 28, 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.
- Ginger cookie → SNAP
- Document with an executor → WILL
- Drag Defense Fund org. → ACLU
- "Gravity's Rainbow" novelist → THOMASPYNCHON
- Tuned to, as a radio dial → SETAT
- Wall recess → NICHE
- Bird's feathers → PLUMAGE
- Cyan shade → AQUA
Want every clue in one place? The full The Washington Post answer list for July 28, 2026 is on that day's grid page, and today's live WaPo Crossword answers are always one tap from the today page.
About the WaPo Crossword
The Washington Post Crossword is a classic American daily 15×15 (larger on Sunday), free to play online and known for fair, conversational cluing. This page covers a Tuesday puzzle. Theme answers and mid-length fill trade places in importance; when a theme clue stalls you, a confirmed crossing entry usually breaks the corner open.
Frequently asked questions
What is the answer to “Portion out”?
The answer is ALLOT, a 5-letter word. It appeared in the The Washington Post crossword on July 28, 2026.
How many letters is the answer to “Portion out”?
5 letters: ALLOT.
Where did this clue appear?
In the The Washington Post crossword on July 28, 2026 (a Tuesday puzzle), at 3-Down.
Can “Portion out” 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 July 28, 2026 is on the WaPo Crossword answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.