| 100% | HID | 3 | Prepared for the guest of honor's surprise party, maybe |
| 56% | HIDE | 4 | Cry just before the guest of honor arrives at a surprise party |
| 42% | SANTA | 5 | Guest of honor at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade |
| 42% | WRAY | 4 | Guest of honor at the Empire State Building's 60th anniversary |
| 41% | RUSE | 4 | Part of the planning for many a surprise birthday party |
| 41% | HID | 3 | Prepared for a surprise party’s big moment |
| 41% | HID | 3 | Prepared for a surprise party's big moment, say |
| 41% | HIDE | 4 | Lurk where a surprise party's guest of honor won't see you, say |
| 40% | FATTEN | 6 | Prepare for the fair, maybe |
| 40% | SPEECH | 6 | “We want to hear from the guest of honor!” |
| 40% | SEANCE | 6 | Gathering with a ghost as the guest of honor |
| 40% | REDALERT | 8 | Prepared for the highest level of emergency |
| 39% | STAND | 5 | Prepare for the playing of the national anthem |
| 39% | ROAST | 5 | Event at which the guest of honor is made fun of |
| 38% | HIDES | 5 | Prepares for a surprise party |
| 38% | HIDE | 4 | Prepare for a surprise party? |
| 38% | DAIS | 4 | Platform for a guest of honor |
| 38% | HORA | 4 | Dance in which the guest of honor is often raised in a chair |
| 37% | DAIS | 4 | Guest of honor's platform |
| 37% | YEAR | 4 | Entertainer of the ___ (Time magazine's 2020 honor for BTS) |
| 37% | HID | 3 | Prepared for a surprise party, in a way |
| 37% | HID | 3 | Waited for the surprise party honoree |
| 37% | SIR | 3 | Title of honor, for the British |
| 36% | HID | 3 | Got ready for the surprise party surprise |
| 36% | LATEARRIVAL | 11 | Guest who missed the surprise of a surprise party, say |
| 36% | ADSALE | 6 | Successful transaction for the business side of a magazine, maybe |
| 36% | UNINVITED | 9 | Not on the guest list for a party |
| 36% | UNINVITED | 9 | Taken off the guest list of a party |
| 36% | RISE | 4 | Prepare for the judge's entrance |
| 35% | VET | 3 | Former member of the military who's honored on November 11, for short |