Pattern Hunt

You are given a shape, not a word list. Find every word on the board that fits it.

Building a board…

Tap the first and last letter of a word. Words run in any direction, including backwards and diagonally.

Use the arrow keys to move around the board. Press Enter on the first letter of a word, then Enter on its last letter.

Pattern Hunt gives you a shape instead of a word list — a rule like “ending in -ING” or “containing OO” — and turns you loose on a ten-by-ten letter grid to find every real word that fits it. Words hide in any of eight directions, forwards or backwards, so the hunt is as much about scanning the board as knowing the pattern. Tap the first and last letter of a word to check it, and start a fresh board any time you want a new rule.

What Is Pattern Hunt?

Pattern Hunt is a word-search game on English Finders with a twist: instead of a list of words to find, you’re given a single rule describing the shape every hidden word shares — for example, “ending in -ING” or “containing a double L.” The board is a 10×10 grid of letters, and finding a match means spotting it yourself rather than checking it off a list. Words are hidden in any of the eight directions on the board — across, down, or diagonally — and can read backwards as well as forwards.

How to Play Pattern Hunt

  1. Read the rule. Check the pattern shown above the board — it’s the only clue about what you’re looking for.
  2. Select a word. Click or tap the first letter, then the last letter, of a straight run of letters that spells a word fitting the rule.
  3. Check the result. The game tells you whether your selection was a match, already found, or not a straight line.
  4. Use a hint if you’re stuck. The first press points to where an unfound word starts and how long it is; press again to reveal that word outright.
  5. Give up or start over. Give Up reveals every word you didn’t find; New Board swaps in a fresh rule and grid whenever you want.

Pattern Hunt Rules

  • Every round is built around one randomly chosen pattern — endings like -ING, -TION, -ABLE, and -NESS; starts like UN-, DIS-, and TH-; letter combinations like OO, EA, CH, or a double L; and letter-shaped patterns such as a four-letter word with A second and E last.
  • Words can run horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, and may read forwards or backwards.
  • No word list is shown — spotting matches yourself is the whole point.
  • Hints are tracked in the counter and reset their “stage” each time you find a new word.
  • Rounds are generated on demand — press New Board any time instead of waiting for a daily reset.
  • No account or sign-up is required to play.

Benefits of Playing Pattern Hunt

Because you’re matching a rule instead of a memorized word, Pattern Hunt pushes you to actually think about word structure — prefixes, suffixes, and letter patterns — rather than just scanning for a shape you already recognize. The words placed on the board are drawn from beginner-to-intermediate vocabulary, graded against the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR A1–B1), so what you’re hunting for is realistic without being obscure. Since a new rule and board are just a click away, it’s an easy way to fit in a short round of pattern recognition and vocabulary practice whenever you have a couple of minutes.

Tips for Solving Pattern Hunt

  • Scan for the pattern’s most distinctive letters first — a double L, or a CH — rather than reading the whole board letter by letter.
  • Remember words can run backwards — a promising-looking string is worth checking in both directions.
  • Check diagonals as carefully as rows and columns; they’re easy to skip over.
  • Save your first hint for when you’re truly stuck — it only narrows down location and length, not the word itself.
  • For a shaped rule like “?A?E”, write out the letter positions to keep track of which ones are fixed.
  • Start a new board if a rule isn’t clicking for you — a different pattern might suit you better.

Who Can Play Pattern Hunt?

Pattern Hunt suits English learners who want extra practice with word structure — prefixes, suffixes, and spelling patterns — as well as word-search fans looking for something more analytical than a plain word list. Teachers can use it as a quick warm-up built around one spelling rule, and vocabulary builders can look up anything they find afterward in the English Finders dictionary.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Pattern Hunt?

A word-search game where you’re given a pattern rule, like “ending in -ING,” instead of a word list, and you find every word on the grid that fits it.

How do I play Pattern Hunt?

Click or tap the first and last letter of a straight run of letters that spells a word matching the rule, in any of the eight directions on the board.

Is Pattern Hunt free?

Yes — you can play without creating an account or signing up.

How often does the board change?

Anytime you like. Press New Board to get a fresh pattern rule and a new grid whenever you want, rather than waiting for a daily reset.

What should I do if I get stuck?

Press Hint for a nudge toward an unfound word’s location, press it again to reveal that word outright, or use Give Up to reveal every remaining answer.

Related Games

Keep the streak going with more games from English Finders:

Word of the Day Challenge Answer three questions about today's shared word. Best Word Challenge Build the highest-scoring word from seven letters. Word Chain Challenge Build a chain of ten words, each starting where the last one ended. Word Ladder Change one letter at a time to climb from word to word. Daily Wordle Unlimited Solve the daily five-letter puzzle or play unlimited rounds. Hangman Reimagined Guess the word from its meaning, one letter at a time.
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