Quick Answer
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Crossword clue: “Went around the world?”
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Answer: ORBITED – 7 letters
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Clue number and direction: 4 Down
The New York Times crossword clue “Went around the world?” is answered with ORBITED (7 letters) in the February 14, 2026 NYT Mini.
Why ORBITED Is the Right NYT Answer
The clue “Went around the world?” uses a playful question mark, signaling a pun or wordplay rather than a purely literal definition. “Went around the world” could mean traveling across the globe, but in a scientific sense, something that literally goes around the world is an object that orbits Earth.
The past-tense verb ORBITED captures that idea exactly: a satellite or spacecraft that has gone around the planet. With a 7-letter Down slot in the Mini, ORBITED fits the letter count and matches the clue’s slightly cheeky phrasing.
What ORBITED Means
To orbit is to move in a curved path around a planet, star, or other body due to gravity, so ORBITED means “traveled around in orbit.” For example, “The spacecraft orbited Earth for several days” describes going around the world in space, not by airplane.
In the clue, that double meaning—traveling “around the world” vs. literally going around the world’s outside—is what makes ORBITED a satisfying answer.
Solving Tips for Similar NYT Clues
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A question mark at the end of a clue usually indicates wordplay, puns, or double meanings, so look beyond the first obvious reading.
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For space- or Earth-related clues like “Went around the world?,” “Goes around the sun?,” or “Circles the planet,” think of ORBITS, ORBITED, or REVOLVES as candidates.
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If your pattern in the grid looks like O_R_I_E_ with a spacey clue, ORBITED should be high on your list once crossings confirm the consonants.
Crossword-Specific Help: Pattern, Count, and Crossings
In the February 14, 2026 NYT Mini, “Went around the world?” fills a 7-letter Down slot, which matches ORBITED exactly. In the finished grid, it appears as:
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O R B I T E D
Crossings from Across answers like ORB, RHO, RAINBOW, TVGUIDE, and HEARTED confirm each letter, so once you have O_R_ITED from the grid, ORBITED becomes the only clean English verb that fits the clue. ORBITED is not obscure “crosswordese” but does show up regularly in NYT and other puzzles when constructors lean into space or Earth-themed wordplay.
Complete February 14, 2026 NYT Mini Answers Today (Across & Down)
Here are the key answers from the February 14, 2026 NYT Mini to help you complete the full grid.
Across
| Clue | Answer | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| Org. with a Slam Dunk Contest | NBA | 3 |
| Menacing creature in “The Lord of the Rings” | ORC | 3 |
| Spherical shape | ORB | 3 |
| Greek “r” | RHO | 3 |
| Symbol on Hawaii’s license plate | RAINBOW | 7 |
Down
| Clue | Answer | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| More courageous | BRAVER | 6 |
| Virginia governor Spanberger | ABIGAIL | 7 |
| Went around the world? | ORBITED | 7 |
| Colossus of ___, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World | RHODES | 6 |
| Intimidated | COWED | 5 |
