27 Across
NYT Daily • August 10, 2025
Be possessive?
Answer:
OWN
Hint:
Consider what it means to have something as your own.
Explanation:
The clue "Be possessive?" hints at the word "own," which means to possess something. It plays on the double meaning of "own" as both a verb (to have) and a way to describe possession. The question mark suggests a playful or indirect definition, making it a classic example of a cryptic-style clue. The answer is straightforward once you think of "own" as a synonym for being possessive.