If you’re obsessed with the daily NYT Strands puzzle, you’re in good company. This exciting word game from the New York Times blends a word search with clever, themed twists.
1 February 2026 NYT Strands Theme: “It’s a gift”
Today’s theme is “It’s a gift”, a witty wordplay that leads solvers to explore various facets of giving and generosity. The puzzle contains words associated with presenting, donating, and acknowledging achievements through gifts and rewards. It is a delightful theme that makes sense once you uncover the spangram.
1 February 2026 NYT Strands Hints
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Consider the various ways in which people give to each other.
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Some answers involve financial contributions, while others pertain to recognition.
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Look out for both professional recognitions and charitable actions.
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The spangram beautifully encapsulates the essence of these gift-related words.
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The puzzle features a combination of both short and long words.
1 February 2026 NYT Strands: Answers
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Bonus (a supplementary payment or reward for exceptional performance)
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Grant (a sum of money provided for a specific purpose)
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Present (a gift designated for someone special)
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Donation (a voluntary gift, usually to a charitable cause)
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Offering (something provided as a goodwill gesture)
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Award (a prize or acknowledgment for accomplishment)
Spangram
GENEROSITY
This spangram perfectly embodies today’s puzzle theme, linking all gift-related words through the central idea of generosity. It runs through the grid and serves as the key to unlocking the puzzle’s deeper meaning once discovered.
How Strands works
Strands is a daily word search puzzle with a twist:
- You are given a theme.
- The grid is filled with hidden words relevant to that theme.
- Words can be arranged in any direction, including diagonally.
- Once you uncover all the theme words, you’re finished!
Typically, each puzzle contains around 6–8 theme words.
How to get and use hints
Hints are seamlessly integrated into Strands and are extremely helpful if you’re stuck:
- To earn a hint, find any non-theme word of at least four letters within the grid.
- Each eligible extra word grants you one hint.
- Using a hint will reveal one of the theme words automatically, enabling you to make progress.
Pro tip: Don’t waste hints indiscriminately—use them strategically when the grid feels challenging. Sometimes, revealing just one word can unlock the entire board for you.
Tips to become a NYT Strands pro
- Begin with the obvious words. First, look for direct connections to the theme.
- Check diagonals early. Strands loves to hide words at angles.
- Build around words you find. Once you uncover one word, the remaining letters often hint at the next.
- Use hints judiciously. Gather them steadily by spotting additional words, and preserve them for moments when you truly need assistance.
- Consider synonyms. The theme clue isn’t always straightforward—expand your thinking.
Final thoughts
The 1 February 2026 NYT Strands puzzle was fairly approachable and rewarding, with a relatable theme centered around the universal notion of giving. The spangram provided a gratifying conclusion once revealed. How many answers did you discover before needing help?
Return tomorrow for a new grid and theme—let us know in the comments which word gave you the most trouble today!