You're staring at your phone or the folded-over Sunday paper, and there it is. Four or five little white boxes mock you. The clue says "receive over time," and suddenly your brain just blanks. It happens to the best of us. Crosswords aren’t really about how much you know; they’re about how well you can predict the specific brand of "crosswordese" a constructor is using that day.
When you see a clue like receive over time crossword, you aren't looking for a complex financial theory. You’re looking for a word that describes a slow, steady accumulation. Most of the time, that word is ACCRUE.
But wait. It isn't always that simple. Depending on the grid size and the specific publication—whether it’s the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, or LA Times—the answer could shift under your feet.
Why ACCRUE is the King of This Clue
Honestly, if you have six letters and the clue is "receive over time," just ink in ACCRUE. It’s the gold standard. In the world of finance, interest accrues. In the world of law, benefits accrue. It’s a word that feels formal, which is exactly why crossword constructors love it. It has a nice mix of vowels and common consonants (A, C, R, U, E) that make it a perfect "anchor" word for the middle of a puzzle.
Will Shortz, the legendary NYT crossword editor, has overseen hundreds of puzzles where this specific interaction occurs. The beauty of the word lies in its Latin roots—accrescere, meaning "to grow." It’s not just about getting something once; it’s about the passage of time being a requirement for the "getting."
But here is the thing. Sometimes the grid doesn't want six letters. Sometimes it wants four. Or five.
The Other Usual Suspects
If "accrue" doesn't fit, you’ve probably got a few other options rattling around the constructor’s brain.
Take EARN. It’s the four-letter workhorse. You receive wages over time, right? If the clue is "receive over time" and the space is tiny, EARN is your best bet. It’s simple, it’s direct, and it’s a staple of Monday and Tuesday puzzles where the difficulty is lower.
Then there is GET. It’s almost too simple, but in a themed puzzle where the "receive over time" clue is part of a larger pun, a three-letter word like GET can sneak in. However, that’s rare. Usually, the "over time" part of the clue is a nudge toward something more gradual.
When the Clue Gets Sneaky
Sometimes the constructor isn't talking about money at all. They might be talking about a physical buildup. Think about the word AMASS.
- AMASS: This usually applies to wealth or evidence.
- COLLECT: A bit more active than just "receiving," but it fits the temporal requirement.
- INCUR: Often used for debts. You don't want to incur things, but you certainly receive them over time if you aren't careful with your credit card.
You have to look at the crossing words. If you have an 'A' at the start and an 'E' at the end, and it’s six letters, you’re back to ACCRUE. If it starts with an 'I', you’re looking at INCUR.
The Psychology of the Crossword Constructor
Constructors like David Steinberg or Brendan Emmett Quigley don't just pick clues out of a hat. They use databases like XWord Info to see how clues have been handled in the past. When they use a phrase like "receive over time," they are often signaling a specific level of difficulty.
A "Monday" clue is literal. A "Saturday" clue is a trick.
If it’s a Saturday puzzle and the clue is "receive over time," the answer might not even be a verb. It could be AGEING (or AGING). You "receive" years over time. See how that works? It’s a lateral move. It’s the kind of thing that makes you want to throw your pen across the room once you finally realize it.
I've spent years solving these, and the biggest mistake people make is getting "wedded" to their first guess. If you put in ACCRUE and nothing else is working, erase it. Even if you’re 90% sure. The 10% of the time it’s actually REAP or COLLECT is what separates the casual solvers from the people who compete at the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament.
Dealing with Synonyms and Tense
One thing that trips up a lot of people is the tense of the clue. If the clue is "received over time," the answer must be ACCRUED. If the clue is "receiving over time," it’s ACCRUING.
The crossword is a contract. The constructor promises that the part of speech and the tense of the clue will match the answer perfectly.
Common Variations You'll See
- REAP: Usually associated with "sowing," but it’s a four-letter alternative for receiving a harvest over time.
- VEST: This is a big one in business-themed puzzles. Stock options "vest" over time. You receive the right to them as the years pass.
- GAIN: Simple, effective, often used in sports or fitness contexts.
How to Get Better at Identifying These Clues
The secret isn't a bigger vocabulary. It’s pattern recognition. When you see "over time," your brain should immediately start scanning for words that imply a process.
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Don't just look at the clue in isolation. Look at the surrounding area. If you’re stuck on "receive over time," solve the short three-letter words crossing it first. Usually, those are "fill" words like ERA, ADS, or THE. Once you have two or three letters of your main word, the answer usually jumps out at you.
For example, if you have _ C _ R _ E, you know it’s ACCRUE. There aren't many other words in the English language that fit that specific skeleton and mean anything close to "receiving."
The "Aha!" Moment
The reason we do these puzzles is for that specific hit of dopamine when the mental gears finally mesh. "Receive over time" is a classic bread-and-butter clue. It’s not meant to be the "seed" of the puzzle (the clever, long entry the puzzle is built around). Instead, it’s the connective tissue. It’s the mortar between the bricks.
When you see it, take a breath. Check the letter count.
- 4 Letters: EARN, REAP, VEST, GAIN
- 5 Letters: INCUR, AMASS
- 6 Letters: ACCRUE, COLLECT, DERIVE
Practical Steps for Your Next Puzzle
Stop overthinking the clue. Crosswords are a game of synonyms, and "receive over time" is a very specific prompt.
- First step: Count the boxes. If it's six, try ACCRUE.
- Second step: Check the tense. If the clue is "receives," look for ACCRUES or EARNS.
- Third step: Look for "crosses." If you have a 'V', think VEST. If you have an 'I', think INCUR.
- Fourth step: Consider the source. Financial puzzles love VEST or ACCRUE. General puzzles might lean toward EARN.
If you're still stuck, look at the clues for the words that intersect your problem spot. Often, a "gimme" clue (something like "Opposite of west" for EAST) will give you the one letter you need to unlock the whole thing.
The more you play, the more these clues become second nature. You won't even have to think "what means receive over time?" You'll just see the clue and your hand will start writing 'A-C-C-R-U-E' before you've even fully processed the thought. That's the flow state solvers live for.
Next time you open your app or pick up the paper, keep these variations in your back pocket. You'll likely see one of them within the week. Crossword constructors are creatures of habit, and "receive over time" is one of their favorite habits to lean on.
Actionable Insights for Solvers
- Always match the suffix of the clue ( -s, -ed, -ing ) to the answer.
- Prioritize ACCRUE for 6-letter slots; it is statistically the most common answer for this specific clue.
- Use crossing letters to distinguish between AMASS and INCUR in 5-letter slots.
- Keep a mental list of "crosswordese" verbs that imply gradual change, as these are the primary targets for "over time" prompts.
- Reference the puzzle's day of the week to gauge if the clue is literal (early week) or a pun (late week).