Daily Word Ladder Solution 2026-05-25: GIVES → TAKEN

Date: 2026-05-25

GIVES → TAKEN

Difficulty: Easy Goal Steps: 5 5 Letters

Today's Word Ladder puzzle connects GIVES to TAKEN in 5 steps. This 5-letter word puzzle challenges your vocabulary and logic skills. Can you find the shortest path?

Play This Puzzle

New? Learn how to play Word Ladder here →

Step-by-Step Solution

Step 1 GIVES → LIVES

Change the 1st letter G to L, turning GIVES into LIVES.

Step 2 LIVES → LIKES

Change the 3rd letter V to K, turning LIVES into LIKES.

Step 3 LIKES → LAKES

Change the 2nd letter I to A, turning LIKES into LAKES.

Step 4 LAKES → TAKES

Change the 1st letter L to T, turning LAKES into TAKES.

Step 5 TAKES → TAKEN

Change the 5th letter S to N, turning TAKES into TAKEN.

Puzzle Insights

Change positions: pos 1: 2, pos 2: 1, pos 3: 1, pos 5: 1. Most-changed position: 1 (2).

Change sequence: 1, 3, 2, 1, 5.

Letter mix: V→V 1, V→C 0, C→V 0, C→C 4.

Word stats: 6 words, 10 unique letters. Start/target share 1 position.

Try It Before You Reveal the Path

Cover the steps and work from both GIVES and TAKEN first. This ladder needs 5 moves, and the endpoints already share 1 letter position—so a useful move does not always look immediately closer to the target.

The recorded route changes position 1 from G to L first, but saves position 5 (S to N) for the finish. That is a useful reminder to enter a familiar word family before forcing the final spelling.

At the midpoint, LAKES matches 3 target positions. On your replay, explain why that bridge gives you more options than a random swap; this path changes position 1 most often.

Practice prompt: choose two unfamiliar bridge words, check their definitions, and write a short sentence for each. Then replay GIVES to TAKEN without looking at the route and compare your reasoning with the solution.