Published July 21, 2026 · Updated July 21, 2026 · By Ranjit Kumar
Looking for NYT Connections word meanings for today? This guide explains the definition and meaning of all 16 words in the July 21, 2026 Connections puzzle (#1136), from the straightforward "kinds of tops" group to the sneaky hidden "Tele_____" wordplay. If you already know the words and just want to understand what each one means, you are in the right place.
Below, every word from today's puzzle is sorted by group difficulty from Yellow (easiest) to Purple (hardest), each with a clear definition. Tap Reveal Meaning to expand any word. Prefer to see the full grid answers first? Head to our live NYT Connections hints and answers for today.
⚡ Quick summary — today's four groups
- 🟨 Yellow: Kinds of tops
- 🟩 Green: Software downloads
- 🟦 Blue: Elements of a musical
- 🟪 Purple: Tele_____
👉 Want the exact answer words for each group? Get the full NYT Connections solution and hints for today.
Yellow Group — Kinds of Tops
The easiest group today. Each word names a style of shirt or top you can wear.
🟨 CROP — Reveal Meaning
Crop: as in a crop top, a shirt cut short to end above the waist and show the midriff.
🟨 HALTER — Reveal Meaning
Halter: as in a halter top, a sleeveless style with a strap that ties behind the neck, leaving the shoulders and back bare.
🟨 TANK — Reveal Meaning
Tank: as in a tank top, a sleeveless shirt with wide shoulder straps and no collar.
🟨 TUBE — Reveal Meaning
Tube: as in a tube top, a strapless top that wraps snugly around the torso like a band.
Green Group — Software Downloads
A moderate group. Each word is something you download or install on a device.
🟩 APP — Reveal Meaning
App: short for application, a program you download and run on a phone, tablet, or computer.
🟩 DRIVER — Reveal Meaning
Driver: a small program that lets your operating system communicate with a hardware device such as a printer or graphics card.
🟩 EXTENSION — Reveal Meaning
Extension: an add-on you install to expand what a web browser or program can do.
🟩 PLUGIN — Reveal Meaning
Plugin: a software component added to an existing program to give it a specific new feature.
Blue Group — Elements of a Musical
A tricky group. Each word is one of the creative building blocks of a stage musical.
🟦 BOOK — Reveal Meaning
Book: in theatre, the "book" is the script — the spoken dialogue and story structure of a musical.
🟦 LYRICS — Reveal Meaning
Lyrics: the words that are sung in the songs of the show.
🟦 MUSIC — Reveal Meaning
Music: the composed score and melodies that make up a musical.
🟦 ORCHESTRATION — Reveal Meaning
Orchestration: the art of arranging a composition for the instruments of the orchestra or band.
Purple Group — Tele_____
The hardest group and today's big trick. Each word becomes a real word when you add the prefix TELE to the front.
🟪 GRAM — Reveal Meaning
Gram: add TELE to make TELEGRAM — a short message once sent by telegraph and delivered in printed form.
🟪 KINESIS — Reveal Meaning
Kinesis: add TELE to make TELEKINESIS — the claimed ability to move objects using only the mind.
🟪 PROMPTER — Reveal Meaning
Prompter: add TELE to make TELEPROMPTER — a device that scrolls a script so a speaker can read while facing the camera.
🟪 VISION — Reveal Meaning
Vision: add TELE to make TELEVISION — the system for broadcasting moving pictures and sound.
Why These Words Matter
Today's puzzle hides its difficulty in the Purple group. Words like GRAM, KINESIS, PROMPTER, and VISION look unrelated until you notice each one becomes a real word when you add the prefix TELE (TELEGRAM, TELEKINESIS, TELEPROMPTER, TELEVISION). Meanwhile, the Yellow "kinds of tops" group leans on everyday words (CROP, TANK, TUBE) that feel like they belong elsewhere, so read every clue for double meanings before locking in a guess.
More NYT Connections Solutions
Catching up on other puzzles? Explore our latest guides and past answers:
- NYT Connections — today's full hints and answers
- NYT Connections answers archive — every past puzzle
- Sports Edition Word Meanings — July 21, 2026
- Soccer Edition Word Meanings — July 21, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the NYT Connections answers for July 21, 2026?
Today's four groups are Kinds of Tops, Software Downloads, Elements of a Musical, and Tele_____. For the exact answer word in each group, see our full NYT Connections hints and answers for today.
What do the words in today's Connections puzzle mean?
Each of the 16 words is defined above under its group. This page explains the meaning of every word — from why "tube" is a kind of top to how "vision" becomes TELEVISION — so you can understand the connections even after solving.
What is the hardest group in today's puzzle?
The Purple group — words that follow the prefix TELE — is the toughest, because the answers (GRAM, KINESIS, PROMPTER, VISION) share no obvious theme until you spot the hidden TELE at the start of each.
Where can I find older Connections answers?
Browse every past puzzle in our NYT Connections answers archive, updated daily.
Final Thoughts
That is every one of today's 16 words defined. The July 21, 2026 Connections puzzle (#1136) rewards solvers who read past the obvious meaning and spot the hidden prefix. Ready to check your grid? Get the full NYT Connections solution and hints for today, browse the answers archive, then check back daily for fresh NYT Connections word meanings, hints, and answers.
