57 Across

NYT Daily • August 8, 2025

"Don't give up"

Answer:

BESTRONG

Hint:

"Here’s a helpful hint for the clue "Don't give up" with the answer "BESTRONG": "This two-word encouragement, combined into one, starts with a verb meaning 'to exist.'" This hint guides the solver toward the structure of the answer (a verb + an adjective) and the idea of merging words, without outright giving away "be strong" or "BESTRONG.""

Explanation:

The clue "Don't give up" leads to the answer "BESTRONG" through a combination of wordplay and interpretation. 1. Direct Meaning: The phrase "Don't give up" is an encouragement to persevere or stay strong, which aligns with the word "strong" in the answer. 2.