Be in arrears
Published by Naitik Mehta · March 30, 2026
Stuck on the clue Be in arrears from the New York Times Daily for March 30, 2026? We have the correct 3-letter answer, including the definition, alternative hints, as well as other answers from the same crossword. Ready to learn more about this clue?
Clue
Be in arrears (3)
Answer
The answer to Be in arrears is Owe (3 letters).
Why does Owe fit this clue?
This is a direct definition clue where 'Be in arrears' points to OWE, meaning to be indebted or have an unpaid obligation. To be in arrears means to be behind in paying money that is due, such as rent, loan payments, or bills. The verb OWE captures this exact financial state of having an outstanding debt or obligation that remains unpaid past its due date.
What does Be in arrears mean?
We break down each word in the clue and show its dictionary definitions below.
arrears
noun
•money that is owed and should have been paid earlier
•the state of being behind in fulfilling obligations or payments
Where did this clue appear?
This clue appeared as 53-across in the New York Times Daily on March 30, 2026, by Gary Cee, edited by Will Shortz. See all answers for this puzzle.
Read the NYT Wordplay column for this puzzle.
NYT Daily — Mar 30, 2026
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What does Owe mean?
verb
•To be under an obligation to give something back to someone or to perform some action for someone.
•To have debt; to be in debt.
Origin of the word Owe
•origin: Old English 'āgan' meaning 'to own, possess'
•period: Old English (before 1100)
The word evolved from meaning 'to own' to 'to be indebted' through the concept that debts were things one possessed or had control over.
How to use Owe in a sentence
Here are 3 examples of how to use the word Owe.
•“After missing several mortgage payments, the homeowners were in arrears and owed the bank over $15,000.”
•“I owe my sister twenty dollars from when she covered my lunch last week.”
•“We owe our success to the hard work and dedication of our entire team.”
What are other crossword clues for Owe?
and 5 more clues with the same answer
Learn about related clues
All clues from the New York Times Daily, Mar 30, 2026 crossword
The New York Times Daily for March 30, 2026 was published by Gary Cee and has 78 clues. Curious about all the answers from this crossword puzzle? View all answers here.
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Frequently asked questions about Be in arrears
- What is the answer to Be in arrears?
- The answer is Owe (3 letters).
- Where did this clue appear?
- This clue was last seen in the New York Times Daily on March 30, 2026.
- How many letters does the answer to Be in arrears have?
- The answer has 3 letters: Owe.
Author
Naitik Mehta
Co-founder
Naitik is a gaming enthusiast who loves solving daily word games and enjoys the friendly competition from time to time. He is the co-founder of Crossword Chef and enjoys thinking about how to make crossword solving more fun for everyone around the world.
Puzzle
NYT Daily — Mar 30, 2026
Get help on the whole puzzle
provider
editor
Will Shortz
date
position
53 Across
answer length
3 letters