Had a following
Published by Naitik Mehta · March 28, 2026
Stuck on the clue Had a following from the New York Times Daily for March 28, 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
Had a following (3)
Answer
The answer to Had a following is Led (3 letters).
Why does Led fit this clue?
This clue uses a past-tense construction where 'Had a following' points to LED, the past tense of the verb 'lead.' To lead means to guide, direct, or go in front of others, and when someone leads, they naturally have followers behind them. The clue cleverly plays on the dual meaning of 'following' as both a group of supporters and the physical act of coming after someone in sequence. LED captures this relationship perfectly since leading inherently involves having others follow your direction or path.
What does Had a following mean?
We break down each word in the clue and show its dictionary definitions below.
following
noun
•a group of supporters or admirers
•people who pursue or come after someone
Where did this clue appear?
This clue appeared as 38-down in the New York Times Daily on March 28, 2026, by Katie Hoody, edited by Will Shortz. See all answers for this puzzle.
Read the NYT Wordplay column for this puzzle.
NYT Daily — Mar 28, 2026
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What does Led mean?
verb
•(heading) To guide or conduct.
•To guide or conduct, as by accompanying, going before, showing, influencing, directing with authority, etc.; to have precedence or preeminence; to be first or chief; — used in most of the senses of the transitive verb.
adjective
•Under somebody's control or leadership.
Origin of the word Led
•origin: Old English 'lǣdan'
•period: Old English
The word evolved from the Proto-Germanic root '*laidijan' meaning 'to cause to go' or 'to guide,' and is related to the Old English noun 'lād' meaning 'way' or 'course.'
How to use Led in a sentence
Here are 3 examples of how to use the word Led.
•“The charismatic speaker led a devoted group of followers who attended all of his rallies.”
•“She led the hiking group safely through the mountain trail to the summit.”
•“The detective followed the clues that led him directly to the suspect's hideout.”
What are other crossword clues for Led?
Learn about related clues
All clues from the New York Times Daily, Mar 28, 2026 crossword
The New York Times Daily for March 28, 2026 was published by Katie Hoody and has 70 clues. Curious about all the answers from this crossword puzzle? View all answers here.
Across
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Frequently asked questions about Had a following
- What is the answer to Had a following?
- The answer is Led (3 letters).
- Where did this clue appear?
- This clue was last seen in the New York Times Daily on March 28, 2026.
- How many letters does the answer to Had a following have?
- The answer has 3 letters: Led.
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 28, 2026
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