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Today’s Wordle starts with ‘R’ and ends with ‘T’. It has a repeating vowel in the center.
The word meaning connects to birds and the place where they rest or sleep, such as a branch or a coop.
The NYT Wordle answer for February 16, 2026, is ROOST, a word that functions as both a noun and a verb.
NYT Wordle today, for February 16 (Monday), takes you on a wildlife trip. It offers a naturalistic start to the week. While the letters are common enough to find in any backyard, the double-vowel structure is the ‘predator’ of this puzzle, stumbling even the experienced players. It is a word that brings to mind quiet barns, sturdy branches, and the peaceful huddling of birds during sunset.
If you’ve ever told someone that ‘the chickens have come home to ____,’ you’ve already used today’s answer in a classic idiom. If not, let’s dive into hints and an expert walkthrough especially created for you to crack Wordle today!
Bonus: Go to the bottom of the article to find some fun facts about the solution.
Before I reveal the final answer, try solving it with these clues:
1. This word is part of the famous idiom ‘rule the ____,’ meaning to be the one in charge or control.
2. It rhymes with words like BOOST.
3. If you rearrange the letters of the word TORSO, you will land on the Wordle answer today.
Here is how I, as a seasoned player, solved Wordle today in three efficient steps:
First Guess: AUDIO- This is a classic opener for a reason, although it would not give you any green tiles today. A yellow 'O' will be revealed. This narrowed our vowel search significantly, ruling out A, U, and I.
Second Guess: STORE—With the 'O' in hand, it's a good idea to test common consonants (S, T, R) and see if 'E' was the second vowel. This was a massive win! It turned the 'O' green and 'R', 'T', 'S' yellow. Now you know almost all the letters (R, S, T, O).
Third Guess: ROAST—Looking at the letters ‘R’, ‘S’, ‘T’, ‘O’, the best possible letter combination is ‘R _ _ S T’. This guess highlights four green letters, ‘R’, ‘O’, ‘S’, ‘T’.
Mistakes to Avoid: By now, you have found all five letters of today’s solution. Don’t neglect the double letter play, or you might waste guesses on words like PORTS.
If you are still struggling, check the answer below!
The answer to Wordle #1703 is ROOST.
The word ROOST has a fascinating history that stretches back over a millennium:
Ancient Origins: It comes from the Old English word hrōst, which specifically referred to the wooden framework of a roof. Over time, because birds loved to perch on these beams, the word became synonymous with the perch itself.
The Power Play: The phrase ‘rule the roost’ actually started as ‘rule the roast’ in the 1500s, according to wordhistory.net. It shifted to ‘roost’ in the 1700s, likely because people associated authority with a dominant rooster leading his hens.
Survival Tactics: In the wild, birds don't just ‘roost’ for sleep; they do it for survival. Small birds like wrens usually roost communally. They huddle together to share body heat and survive freezing winter nights.
The Rooster Connection: The word ‘rooster’ is a purely American invention from the 1770s, according to americanheritage.com. It was created as a ‘polite’ alternative to the Old English word ‘cock,’ simply referring to a male chicken.
Also Read: NYT Wordle Answer Today for February 15, 2026: Hints, Strategy & Expert Walkthrough
Today’s puzzle offered a classic example of how a familiar, natural word can still cause a bit of a ruffle in your daily routine. The repeating letter structure has become a recurring theme for the NYT daily puzzle lately, which likely helped many veterans spot the solution early. However, for those using common openers like STARE or RAISE, the path was split. It was a gentle reminder that in Wordle, as in nature, sometimes the simplest spot is the best place to land.
Come back tomorrow to find more hints, fun facts, and an expert walkthrough!
Also Read: NYT Connections Feb 15, 2026: Hints, Tips, and Solution
