Quick Answer
The New York Times crossword clue “Ready for business” is answered with OPEN.
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Answer: OPEN
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Length: 4 letters
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Clue number and direction: 4 Across
In the grid, you’ll see it as a four‑letter entry: O P E N.
Why “OPEN” Is the Right NYT Answer
“Ready for business” describes the state of a shop, office, or service that is actively accepting customers or clients, which is exactly what OPEN means in everyday usage. The clue is a straightforward definition type, with no wordplay: if a store is “ready for business,” its sign literally says OPEN.
The letter count for 4 Across is four letters, and OPEN fits that slot perfectly with no abbreviations or tricky punctuation. If you had any crossings, common patterns like O _ E N or _ P E N quickly point you to OPEN as the only natural fill.
What “OPEN” Means in Plain English
In plain English, OPEN means “not closed” or “available for use,” especially when referring to businesses, stores, or services. A shop that is OPEN is currently operating and ready to serve customers.
The word can also describe availability in a broader sense (an open position, open registration), but in this clue it clearly targets the business sense that crossword solvers see very often.
How “OPEN” Fits the Grid and Crossings
For 4 Across, the entry length is 4 letters, so the pattern in the grid looks like:
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Pattern before solving:
_ _ _ _ -
Final fill:
O P E N
Crossings help confirm it:
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The O, P, E, and N will each intersect with Down clues; once even two of those letters are fixed, alternate answers become extremely unlikely.
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If a crossing contradicts one of the letters in OPEN, recheck that Down clue—this is such a common, clean answer that it’s usually correct once the definition matches.
Because OPEN is a very common and grid‑friendly word, it appears frequently in crosswords, especially in early‑week NYT puzzles where clues tend to be more direct.
Solving Tips for Similar NYT Clues
Use these tips whenever you see business‑related state clues:
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Look for “ready” or “available”: Phrases like “Ready for business,” “Accepting customers,” or “Not closed” often clue OPEN.
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Match tense and form: The clue is an adjective phrase (“ready for business”), so the answer should also be an adjective, which OPEN is.
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Short everyday words first: For 3–5 letter slots, think of very common, concrete words before hunting for obscure entries.
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Use the opposite: If you mentally flip the clue to “not closed,” OPEN comes to mind immediately.
Possible Alternate Clues for “OPEN”
You might see OPEN clued in other puzzles as:
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“Not closed”
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“Accepting customers”
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“Unlocked”
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“Ready for use”
All of these share the same core idea of availability or accessibility, which keeps OPEN in heavy rotation as a crossword answer.
