Quick Answer
Clue: “Make very excited”
Answer: AMPUP
Answer length: 5 letters
Clue number and direction: 7-Across
In the grid, 7-Across is filled as A M P U P, crossing downs like GRAND, REMOW, APPLE, FLUTE, and TYPEB from the same Mini.
Why AMPUP Is the Right NYT Answer
- The phrase “amp up” is common slang for making someone or something very excited, energized, or hyped, which matches the clue word-for-word. Mini clues are often direct, so there is no trick here—just a straightforward definition of the phrasal verb.
- The 5-letter entry AMPUP fits the required length and appears in published answer keys for the January 23, 2026 NYT Mini crossword. Other options like “excite” or “thrill” either do not match the pattern from crossings or have different lengths, leaving AMPUP as the clean fill.
What AMPUP Means in Plain English
- To amp up something is to increase its energy, intensity, or excitement level. You might amp up a crowd with loud music, a team with a pep talk, or a show with brighter lights and faster pacing.
- The term comes from “amp,” short for “amplify,” meaning to make stronger or louder, so AMPUP naturally conveys boosting excitement. In casual speech and media, it is often used exactly the way the clue suggests: to “make very excited.”
Solving Tips for Similar NYT Clues
- Watch for clues like “Hype up,” “Energize greatly,” or “Really rev up,” any of which can point to AMPUP in a 5-letter slot.
- In the grid, AMPUP can show up with patterns like A_PUP, AM__P, or _MPUP, depending on how many crossings you already have.
- Crossings in this specific Mini help confirm it: letters from GRAND (1-Down), REMOW (2-Down), APPLE (3-Down), FLUTE (4-Down), and TYPEB (5-Down) all support AMPUP at 7-Across.
Because it is modern, conversational language, AMPUP is less “old-school crosswordese” and more of a contemporary Mini-friendly entry that may recur when editors want a lively slangy feel.
