Quick Answer
The New York Times crossword clue “Long, long time” has the answer “EON”, which is a 3-letter entry.
Clue: “Long, long time”
Answer: EON
Length: 3 letters
Clue number and direction: 8-Across
In the grid, it appears as EON going across three consecutive squares.
Why EON Is the Right NYT Answer
- The clue asks for a phrase meaning a very long stretch of time, and EON literally means an immeasurably or indefinitely long period. It’s also a staple in crossword clue databases as the most recent 3-letter solution for this exact clue in the NYT Mini.
- With three boxes in 8-Across and no indication of plural (“times”), the singular EON is a perfect semantic and length match, while alternatives like ERA or AGE are usually clued slightly differently.
What EON Means in Plain English
- In simple terms, an eon is an extremely long time—so long you usually can’t measure it precisely. In geology, an eon is one of the biggest divisions of time, often spanning around a billion years, but in everyday use, people say “It’s been an eon” just to mean “It’s been forever.”
- Crossword clues like “Ages and ages” or “Seemingly forever” often rely on this same exaggerated sense of duration when they lead you to EON.
Crossword-Specific Help: Pattern, Crossings, and Recurrence
- EON is a very common crossword answer across NYT and other major outlets whenever the clue hints at a vast or vague time span.
- In the January 31, 2026 NYT Mini, the downs crossing 8A will confirm each letter, so even if you’re torn between ERA and EON, the crossings will settle the E–O–N pattern quickly.
- You may also see close variants like AEON (4 letters, alternate spelling) or plural EONS/AEONS in grids with different lengths.
Solving Tips for Similar NYT Clues
- When you see clues like “Ages and ages,” “Many millennia,” or “Seemingly forever,” always consider EON/AEON alongside ERA and AGE, and then check the letter count.
- For 3-letter slots, EON is a strong candidate when the clue feels more “cosmic” or extreme than historical, while ERA often leans toward named periods or sports stats.
Let crossings break ties: if you have E?N from downs in a “long time” clue, EON almost always beats alternatives, especially in early-week Minis.
More NYT Mini Crossword Answers for January 29, 2026
| Clue | Answer | |
| 1A | Lifeguard’s skill, for short | View Answer |
| 4A | Health measure calculated using height and weight: Abbr. | View Answer |
| 7A | “I’ve cracked the code!” | View Answer |
| 8A | Long, long time | View Answer |
| 9A | Like a desert’s climate | View Answer |
| 1D | Header on a company’s website, perhaps | View Answer |
| 2D | Opponent of a Met or Marlin, in the N.L. East | View Answer |
| 3D | Halves of diameters | View Answer |
| 4D | Tech release that’s not the finished product | View Answer |
| 9D | Words from someone hoping to be friends on Facebook | View Answer |
