Four letters. Across. Northwest corner. And just like that, the grid stalls. If the clue “Arrange numerically, perhaps” from the NYT crossword stopped your solve, here is what you need.
Table of Contents
Quick Answer
| Clue | Answer | Letters | Puzzle | Editor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arrange numerically, perhaps | SORT | 4 | August 25, 2025 | Will Shortz |
The Answer Is SORT
SORT — four letters, one vowel, rhymes with short. That is the confirmed answer to this clue from the August 25, 2025 NYT Crossword, constructed by Ryan Mathiason.
If you want to verify before committing to the grid:
- First letter: S
- Second letter: O
- Third letter: R
- Fourth letter: T
Why This Clue Points to SORT
The word “arrange” is doing the heavy lifting. It is a direct signal asking for a synonym, and SORT fits cleanly. But the second half of the clue is where it gets interesting.
“Numerically, perhaps” is not defining the answer. It is giving one example of what the answer can do. The word “perhaps” is the tell. In NYT crossword construction, that qualifier signals the clue is showing you a specific use case, not the full picture. The answer has to be the broader term.
SORT works numerically, yes. But it works alphabetically, chronologically, by size, by category, and dozens of other ways. That is exactly why constructors return to it when building ordering and organizing clues.
Other Crossword Clues That Also Answer SORT
This word shows up across multiple puzzles and publications because of how broadly it applies:
- “Alphabetize, perhaps” — WSJ Crossword, January 12, 2026
- “Arrange from newest to oldest, say” — NYT Crossword, October 2025
- “Spreadsheet option”
- “Data command”
- “Put into groups”
- “Do a post-office job”
- “Word processing function”
- “Get the laundry ready”
The pattern across all of these is the same: SORT is the general action, and the clue illustrates one specific version of it.
About the August 25, 2025 Puzzle
The puzzle that carried this clue was a Monday NYT Crossword, the most accessible edition of the week. Monday grids are built for accessibility, with direct clues and common vocabulary.
Grid details:
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Constructor | Ryan Mathiason |
| Editor | Will Shortz |
| Grid size | 15×15 |
| Total words | 78 |
| Fill-in-the-blank clues | 7 |
| Average word length | 4.85 letters |
SORT fits the Monday profile precisely. It is a word every solver knows, but clued sideways through an example like “numerically,” it can still slow you down for a moment.
NYT Crossword: The Basics
- Weekday grids: 15×15 | Sunday grid: 21×21
- New puzzles publish at 10 PM ET on weekdays, 6 PM ET on weekends
- Difficulty increases each day, Monday through Saturday
- Sunday puzzles are larger but typically sit around Thursday-level difficulty
Stuck on a four-letter ordering clue in a NYT grid, the answer is almost always worth checking against SORT first. Constructors come back to it because few words cover that much ground in that few letters. Now you know exactly why.
