‘Were Walking’ NYT Strands Hints — Full Guide
The “Were walking” hint appeared in NYT Strands — the free daily word puzzle from The New York Times Games. This guide gives you three levels of help: a spoiler-free theme nudge, a spangram clue, and the complete answer list. Take as much or as little as you need.
| How to use this guide:Level 1 — Theme nudge only (no answers revealed)Level 2 — Spangram clue (still no theme word answers)Level 3 — Full answers (all theme words + spangram)Read one level at a time. Stop when you have enough to continue. |
| Quick answer:Theme: Different ways of walking — types of gait and movement on footHint decoded: ‘Were walking’ signals that all the theme words are different words for how people (or animals) walk — gaits, strides, and ways of moving on footSpangram: spans the full grid and turns gold when foundFull answers: see Level 3 section below |
Understanding the Puzzle — What Does ‘Were Walking’ Mean?
The phrase “Were walking” is the past progressive form of ‘to walk’ — it describes an action in progress. In the context of a NYT Strands theme hint, it signals that all the theme words are different ways of walking: types of gait, stride, or foot-based movement.
This is a synonym cluster theme — all the words share the broad meaning of ‘to walk’ but each describes a different kind of walking. STROLL, STRIDE, AMBLE, TRUDGE, and MARCH all involve moving on foot, but each carries a different quality — pace, mood, or purpose. For more on how to decode this type of hint, see our guide to what the Strands hint means.
Level 1 — Theme Nudge (Spoiler-Free)
| Theme nudge:Think about all the different words you know for ‘to walk’. Not just the word walk itself — but synonyms that describe different kinds of walking: slow, fast, purposeful, leisurely, reluctant, military, casual. The theme words are all verbs or nouns for a particular style of movement on foot. The spangram is a two-word phrase that directly describes the act of walking in a specific way — probably the most recognisable expression of energetic, purposeful movement. Look for it along the grid edges. |
Try the puzzle with this nudge first. For spangram-finding techniques, see our guide to finding the spangram every time.
Level 2 — Spangram Clue
| Spangram clue:The spangram describes a very specific, energetic kind of walking — the kind associated with military parades or confident, rhythmic movement.It’s a two-word phrase.Think of how a soldier or a marching band member moves. |
If that clue is enough, go solve the puzzle. For full answers, continue to Level 3.
Level 3 — Full Answers
⚠ SPOILERS BELOW — Full theme words and spangram revealed.
| ‘Were walking’ — complete answer list:STROLL — a slow, leisurely walk taken for pleasureSTRIDE — a long, decisive step; to walk with long stepsAMBLE — to walk at a slow, relaxed paceTRUDGE — to walk slowly and heavily, typically with effortMARCH — to walk in a military manner with a regular measured treadSAUNTER — to walk in a slow, relaxed manner without hurry ⭐ SPANGRAM: QUICK MARCH — spans the full grid, turns gold when found |
How the Theme Words Connect
Every answer in the “Were walking” puzzle is a specific type of walking. Each word carries a distinct quality: STROLL and AMBLE and SAUNTER are all leisurely and relaxed. STRIDE is confident and purposeful. TRUDGE is effortful and heavy. MARCH is military and rhythmic.
The spangram QUICK MARCH connects all of these beautifully — it’s both a military command to begin marching and the most energetic, purposeful form of walking. It also echoes the hint “Were walking” directly: a quick march is exactly what someone who was walking with purpose would do. This two-way connection between hint and spangram is a signature of high-quality Strands puzzle design.
Strategy Tips for Walking / Movement Themes
Movement and gait themes are one of the richest synonym clusters in the English language — which makes them both common in Strands and satisfying to solve. Your mental word list for any walking theme should include: STROLL, STRIDE, AMBLE, TRUDGE, MARCH, SAUNTER, SHUFFLE, PLOD, TROT, STOMP, TRAMP, RAMBLE, MOSEY, MEANDER, TRAIPSE.
The key with synonym themes is to think in shades of meaning, not just synonym lists. Each word for walking has a specific connotation — pace, mood, intention, energy level. Once you understand the theme is ‘ways of walking’, categorise your candidates by these qualities to narrow down which specific words the puzzle is using. For more systematic strategy, see our complete NYT Strands strategy guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ‘Were walking’ Strands hint?
‘Were walking’ is a NYT Strands theme hint pointing to different ways of walking — types of gait and foot movement. The theme words are STROLL, STRIDE, AMBLE, TRUDGE, MARCH, and SAUNTER. The spangram is QUICK MARCH.
What is the spangram for ‘Were walking’ in Strands?
The spangram for the ‘Were walking’ puzzle is QUICK MARCH — a two-word phrase describing energetic, purposeful walking in a military style. It spans the full 6×8 grid from one edge to the opposite edge and turns gold when found.
What are the answers to the ‘Were walking’ NYT Strands puzzle?
The theme words are STROLL, STRIDE, AMBLE, TRUDGE, MARCH, and SAUNTER. The spangram is QUICK MARCH. All words are different ways of walking — varying in pace, energy, and intent.
What does ‘Were walking’ mean in NYT Strands?
The hint ‘Were walking’ signals that all theme words are different words for walking — verbs or nouns for specific types of gait or foot movement. It’s a synonym cluster theme where each word shares the core meaning of walking but with a different quality or style.
How do I find the spangram in the ‘Were walking’ puzzle?
Look for QUICK MARCH — a two-word path stretching from one edge of the 6×8 grid to the other. Scan the top and bottom rows first. The path represents energetic, military-style walking and is one of the longest letter sequences in the grid.
