| 100% | PLANB | 5 | Alternate solution when the first one fails: 2 wds. |
| 53% | PLAN | 4 | ___ B is for when the first one fails |
| 47% | ACTI | 4 | When the curtain first opens at the theater: 2 wds. |
| 43% | RAMIMALEK | 9 | Actor who became the first one of Egyptian heritage to win an Oscar for Best Actor in 2019: 2 wds. |
| 42% | JOHNMADDEN | 10 | Football player turned broadcaster who was the first one to have worked for all of the "Big Four" TV networks: 2 wds. |
| 41% | ROTTENEGG | 9 | What the "last one in" is, when running to the pool: 2 wds. |
| 39% | ROALDAMUNDSEN | 13 | Norwegian explorer who in 1911 became the first person to reach the South Pole, one month ahead of 18-Across: 2 wds. |
| 39% | LOWTIDE | 7 | When the most beach sand is visible: 2 wds. |
| 39% | DRNO | 4 | The first James Bond film: 2 wds. |
| 39% | DRNO | 4 | The first James Bond movie: 2 wds. |
| 38% | SHIALABEOUF | 11 | Star of the first three "Transformers" movies: 2 wds. |
| 38% | LEADOFF | 7 | Be the first baseball player to bat: 2 wds. |
| 38% | INWAR | 5 | "___, truth is the first casualty" (famous quote): 2 wds. |
| 38% | JOHNCARPENTER | 13 | Director of the first "Halloween": 2 wds. |
| 38% | IGET | 4 | "___ Around," the first number-one charting song released by The Beach Boys in 1964: 2 wds. |
| 38% | GAMEDAY | 7 | When the action takes place for an athlete: 2 wds. |
| 37% | WASAT | 5 | "I ___ school when the earthquake happened.": 2 wds. |
| 37% | ONCUE | 5 | Exactly when the script indicates: 2 wds. |
| 37% | HOPON | 5 | The first "HO" of a tourist's HOHO bus: 2 wds. |
| 37% | CYNTHIACOOPER | 13 | She was the first WNBA MVP: 2 wds. |
| 36% | LIONELRICHIE | 12 | He sang the first line on 32-Across: 2 wds. |
| 36% | DRNO | 4 | Villain in the first James Bond movie: 2 wds., abbr. |
| 36% | NOHIT | 5 | A game in baseball when the opposing team fails to record a single base hit: 2 wds. |
| 36% | DAWNEDON | 8 | Realised it for the first time: 2 wds. |
| 36% | TENZINGNORGAY | 13 | Sherpa who was one of the first two people to conquer Mount Everest: 2 wds. |
| 36% | JOHNBELUSHI | 11 | Star of the first four seasons of 48-Down: 2 wds. |
| 36% | LABORDAY | 8 | It's celebrated during the first week of September: 2 wds. |
| 35% | SIXO | 4 | ___'clock, when the clock hands form a straight vertical line: 2 wds. |
| 35% | IWIN | 4 | Gleeful cry when the coin flip is in your favor: 2 wds. |
| 35% | SHERYLSWOOPES | 13 | She was the first player signed by a WNBA team: 2 wds. |