Quick Answer
Clue: “__ XING (street sign)”
Answer: PED
Answer length: 3 letters
Clue number and direction: 6-Down
The New York Times crossword clue “__ XING (street sign)” is answered with PED, completing the familiar road sign phrase “PED XING.”
Why PED Is the Right NYT Answer
- On U.S. road signs, PED XING is an abbreviation for “pedestrian crossing,” warning drivers about people walking across the street. Crossword databases explicitly list PED as the 3-letter answer for “__ XING (street sign)” and similar clues across NYT and other outlets.
- The pattern “__ XING” almost always expects PED, since other options (like “RR” for railroad) are clued more specifically and do not fit this generic street-sign phrasing.
What PED Means in Plain English (on signs)
- In this context, PED is short for pedestrian, meaning someone traveling on foot. When combined as “PED XING,” it literally signals “pedestrian crossing,” marking a crosswalk area where drivers should slow down and yield.
- Outside signage and crosswords, PED can also appear as a combining form from Latin (meaning “foot”) in words like “pedestrian,” but in this clue it’s strictly the road-sign shorthand.
Crossword-Specific Help for PED
- In the grid, PED appears as P E D; with crossings you may first see ED or P_D, but once you notice the XING reference it becomes clear. Crossword clue lists show PED under many near-identical prompts: “_ XING (road sign),” “Walker, on a sign,” “Crosswalk user, for short,” and “Walker, briefly.”
- Because PED is short, consonant-heavy, and tied to an instantly recognizable real-world sign, it’s a favorite bit of “signage crosswordese” that recurs across puzzles.
Solving Tips for Similar NYT Clues
- Anytime you see “__ XING” in a clue, especially with “street sign” or “road sign,” fill in PED for a 3-letter answer.
- Related clues like “Walker, on signs,” “Crosswalk user, briefly,” or “Walker, for short” also often resolve to PED. Cross-check the letter count.
Remember that XING itself is shorthand for “crossing,” so pairing it with PED (pedestrian) should quickly click once you recognize the traffic-sign context.
More NYT Mini Crossword Answers for January 28, 2026
| Clue | Answer | |
| 1A | Remove from a position of power | View Answer |
| 5A | Not cool | View Answer |
| 7A | “Fine, see if ___!” | View Answer |
| 8A | Kind of bored | View Answer |
| 9A | Primatologists’ subjects: | View Answer |
| 1D | Kind of board | View Answer |
| 2D | Prepare to use, as a pen | View Answer |
| 3D | Desirable place to sit on a hot day | View Answer |
| 4D | Pair on a bicycle | View Answer |
| 6D | __ XING (street sign) | View Answer |
