Keywords: LinkedIn CrossClimb solution, daily LinkedIn game, CrossClimb #620, Question ID 620, published January 10 2026, word ladder answers, FORTY WINKS

LinkedIn CrossClimb #620 Solution & Walkthrough (January 10, 2026)

In this guide, we’ll solve LinkedIn CrossClimb #620 step by step, moving through the word ladder, explaining each clue, and finishing with the final compound answer. This is a great example of how CrossClimb combines vocabulary, logic, and the classic word ladder mechanic.

Game info: CrossClimb • Question ID: 620 • Date published: January 10, 2026

How CrossClimb Works (Quick Recap)

In LinkedIn’s CrossClimb puzzle:

• You answer several trivia-style clues, one word per line.
• Then you reorder those answers into a word ladder, where each step changes exactly one letter to make a new valid word.
• The top and bottom words connect to a final compound question (often a phrase or two related words).

For CrossClimb #620, we build a ladder of five middle words, then use them to unlock a fun slang phrase.

Step-by-Step Answers for CrossClimb #620

Hint 1: Places where soldiers encamp

The clue points to locations where soldiers stay in a semi-permanent way. The correct answer is:

Answer: FORTS

Why it fits: A fort is a fortified place used by soldiers; the plural FORTS matches both meaning and letter count.

Hint 2: Crosses a river at a shallow place

Here we’re looking for a verb meaning to go across at a shallow crossing.

Answer: FORDS

Why it fits: To ford a river is to cross it at a shallow point. The plural/third-person singular form is FORDS.

Word Ladder Check: FORTS → FORDS

FORTS
FORDS

Compare the two words:

• F O R T S
• F O R D S

Only one letter changes: T → D. All other letters and their positions remain the same, so this is a valid CrossClimb step.

Hint 3: Parts of a sentence

Next, we want something that makes up sentences.

Answer: WORDS

Why it fits: Sentences are composed of WORDS, so the clue and definition line up perfectly.

Word Ladder Check: FORDS → WORDS

FORDS
WORDS

Compare the two words:

• F O R D S
• W O R D S

Only one letter changes: F → W. The rest of the letters (O, R, D, S) stay in the same positions. Another valid single-letter change.

Hint 4: Operates effectively

This clue points to a verb meaning “functions well” or “is effective.”

Answer: WORKS

Why it fits: If something WORKS, it operates effectively. The grammar and meaning are right on target.

Word Ladder Check: WORDS → WORKS

WORDS
WORKS

Compare the two:

• W O R D S
• W O R K S

Only one letter changes: D → K. The rest remains stable, giving us another clean ladder step.

Hint 5: People who are obsessed with the details of a thing, such as policy

This is modern slang often used in political or technical contexts.

Answer: WONKS

Why it fits: A policy wonk is someone highly focused on the fine details of policy. The plural form is WONKS, matching the clue.

Word Ladder Check: WORKS → WONKS

WORKS
WONKS

Compare the words:

• W O R K S
• W O N K S

Only one letter changes: R → N. Once again, that satisfies the CrossClimb one-letter-change rule.

Complete Word Ladder for CrossClimb #620

Putting all the middle answers in correct ladder order, we get:

FORTS
FORDS
WORDS
WORKS
WONKS

Each step differs from the one above it by exactly one letter, and each is a valid English word that fits its clue. Once this ladder is in place, CrossClimb unlocks the top and bottom entries for the final compound question.

Compound Question & Final Answer

Compound Question: A two-word slang phrase for a nap, which also describes a large number of times opening and closing the eyes quickly.

We are looking for:

• A common slang phrase for taking a nap.
• That same phrase can literally describe many quick blinks.

The classic phrase that matches both ideas is:

Final compound answer: FORTY WINKS

Top Answer: FORTY

FORTY is the number 40. In the idiom, it modifies the word “winks” to form the phrase “forty winks.”

Bottom Answer: WINKS

WINKS are brief closures of the eyes. Many quick winks could be described as “forty winks,” which colloquially means a short nap.

Why “FORTY WINKS” Works Perfectly

• Slang for a nap: “I’m going to grab forty winks” = I’m going to take a short sleep.
• Literal description: Many rapid open-and-close motions of the eyes are lots of winks—metaphorically “forty” of them.

How the Ladder Connects to the Final Phrase

While the middle ladder words don’t always define the final phrase, they constrain the letters so that the top and bottom words still fit the one-letter-change chain. In this puzzle:

• Middle ladder: FORTS → FORDS → WORDS → WORKS → WONKS
• Final phrase: FORTY WINKS

The logic of CrossClimb #620 shows how the game blends trivia clues with letter-by-letter reasoning, eventually guiding you to a well-known idiom.

Tips for Future LinkedIn CrossClimb Puzzles

Using #620 as a model, here are a few practical strategies:

• Check single-letter differences: After filling in clues, always verify that consecutive words differ by only one letter.
• Think of common idioms: For compound questions, consider well-known phrases or slang like “forty winks,” “cold call,” “paper trail,” etc.
• Work both directions: Sometimes it helps to imagine possible final phrases first, then see how the ladder could reach them.
• Favor everyday vocabulary: CrossClimb tends to use common words (FORTS, WORDS, WORKS, WONKS) rather than obscure terms.

This complete explanation of LinkedIn CrossClimb #620 (Question ID 620, published January 10, 2026) should help you both understand today’s solution and improve your strategy for future daily LinkedIn word games.

// CrossClimb #620 - Final Answers
// Middle ladder:
FORTS
FORDS
WORDS
WORKS
WONKS

// Compound phrase:
FORTY WINKS

Use this pattern—clue solving, ladder validation, then idiom hunting—to tackle upcoming LinkedIn CrossClimb puzzles with confidence.