First Word

How to play First Word

Every board is a 10×10 grid of letters with ten hidden words and a headline that finishes a sentence: the first word you see is your hidden strength, your perfect weekend, your next small step. Let your eyes wander and mark the first word you notice. Drag across it, or tap its first letter and then its last.

That first word is yours. It appears under the board with a one-line reading that answers the headline. Then the hunt begins: a list of clues shows the first letter and the length of every word still hidden, such as F****, and the clock starts running. Find all ten to finish the board.

Three levels, 28 themes, no limit

Easy hides words across and down. Medium adds diagonals. Hard also hides words backwards. Pick a theme you like, or leave it on Surprise me and let each new board choose. Every theme has fourteen words and each board draws ten of them, so a theme comes back with a different set and a different grid. Press New puzzle as often as you like.

Your board is saved on this device, so a refresh brings back your marks, your first word and your time. The link in the address bar always points at the board on screen: send it to a friend and compare which word each of you saw first.

Tips for the hunt

Use the first letters

Pick a clue, then scan the grid for its first letter only. From each match, check the directions your level allows. A nine-letter word can only fit in a few places, so start with the long clues.

Close counts

Short words often sit inside longer ones. If you mark letters that are only part of a hidden word, the game says so instead of refusing the mark. Stretch the same line until it covers the whole word.

One shared board a day

First Word Daily deals one board per calendar day, the same theme and the same letters for everyone, with a streak for coming back and a place on the daily leaderboards.

Where First Word comes from

This puzzle is powered by The First Word You See, a free maker where you can build, style and print a word search from your own words. The readings are written for fun. They are a smile at the end of a puzzle, not a personality test.

Frequently asked questions

What is First Word?

First Word is a word search with a twist. Ten words hide in a 10×10 grid under a line such as "The first word you see is your hidden strength". The first word you mark is your word and comes with a one-line reading. After that, clues appear and the goal is to find all ten.

Is the first-word reading a personality test?

No. The readings are written for fun, like a fortune cookie or a horoscope line. Which word you notice first depends on where your eyes land and how the grid was dealt, not on who you are. Enjoy the reading, share it, and do not base any decision on it.

How do the clues work?

Clues stay hidden until you mark your first word, so nothing steers your eye. Then each remaining word appears as its first letter followed by one asterisk per missing letter, for example F**** for a five-letter word. A found word is shown in full.

What do Easy, Medium and Hard change?

Easy hides every word across or down. Medium adds diagonals. Hard also hides words backwards, so a word can run right to left or bottom to top. The grid is always 10×10 with ten words.

Why did I get a hint instead of a miss?

If the letters you mark are a real word that sits inside a longer hidden word, such as PATH inside EMPATHY, the game tells you that you are close. Stretch your mark to cover the whole word.

When does the clock start?

The clock starts when you mark your first word and stops when the tenth word is found. Take as long as you like to look at the grid before that first mark.

Can I send someone the exact same board?

Yes. The address bar and the Challenge a friend panel always carry a link to the board on screen. The link holds the theme, the difficulty and the puzzle code, so it opens the same letters for everyone.

Can I make my own puzzle with these words?

Yes. When a board is solved, the "Make your own with these words" link opens the free maker at thefirstwordyousee.com with the ten words loaded, ready to restyle, print or share.