Wordle today: Here's the answer, hints for January 17

It's Tuesday, which means there's a new Wordle puzzle for you to solve. And as always, we're here with some tips and hints to help you find the solution.

If you just want us to tell you the answer, you can jump to the end of this article to get January 17's Wordle solution right away. But if you prefer to work it out yourself, keep reading for a few clues, tips, and strategies to help you get there.

Where did Wordle come from?

Wordle was originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a cute gift for his partner, though the game soon became a daily habit for thousands around the globe (as well as new content for TikTok creators). Inspiring numerous clones and variations, the word guessing game was eventually bought by the New York Times, which still continues to put a new puzzle live every day.

Games inspired by Wordle include battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variants such as Dordle and Quordle that have you trying to guess multiple words at once.

Not the day you're after? Here's the Wordle answer for January 16.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

Just as there's no objective best way to have fun, there is no objective best Wordle starting word. However, if you want to be strategic in your approach, we have some ideas to help you select the perfect opening. Some helpful tips include choosing a word that has at least two different vowels in it, and making sure there are some common consonants like S, T, R, or N mixed in.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

In happier times, the entire archive of past Wordles was openly available for everybody to enjoy whenever they felt the urge for a word puzzle. Unfortunately this library has since been erased from the internet, with the website's creator saying its removal was at the New York Times' request.

Is Wordle getting harder?

While it may not feel like it at times, Wordle isn't getting any harder than it was when it first began. Though if you're having the opposite problem and are craving more of a challenge, Wordle does have a Hard Mode you can enable to up the ante.

Why are there two different Wordle answers some days?

Wordle solutions usually stand alone, with only one correct answer per day. However occasionally the puzzle game will break this rule and accept two different solutions as correct on the same day. This is because the New York Times made changes to Wordle after acquiring it, swapping out some answers for new ones.

The Times has since added its own updated word list, so this should happen even less frequently than before. To avoid any confusion, it's a good idea to refresh your browser before getting stuck into a new puzzle.

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

The solution to today's Wordle is a verb, and can mean to take up or follow certain behaviour.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

No double letters in today's Wordle solution — we're working with all original letters.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter A, as in "Airplane" by Stray Kids.

What's the answer to Wordle today?

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to Wordle #577 is...

ADOPT.

Don't feel discouraged if you didn't get it today. The beauty of Wordle is that there's always a new one for you to try the next day. Come back tomorrow for more helpful clues and hints!

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Wordle.