| 100% | CHEERS | 6 | Rallying words from fans in the stands, or a cry to mark the New Year's tradition of raising glasses |
| 37% | RING | 4 | Boxer's arena, or a New Year's tradition that announces the beginning of the New Year (with "in") |
| 37% | FIVE | 4 | Half of a decade or the next number in a New Year's countdown (go to 34d to find out what you can do next year) |
| 36% | MAY | 3 | "To Whom It ___ Concern," 2016 film starring Wilmer Valderrama ... or the start of a New Year's wish highlighted in this puzzle |
| 35% | CROWDFUND | 9 | Raise money from a large number of people on the Internet, and a word added to the Merriam-Webster dictionary in 2014 |
| 35% | SIX | 3 | Half of a dozen or the next number in a New Year's countdown |
| 35% | ALLABOARD | 9 | Train conductor's cry … or a hint to each word in the answers to the starred clues |
| 34% | WINTERARC | 9 | Season-long alternative to a New Year's resolution, or what the letters in the shaded squares represent? |
| 34% | YOUR | 4 | "How to Train ___ Dragon," 2010 animated film ... or part of a New Year's wish highlighted in this puzzle |
| 34% | DOH | 3 | Cry from Homer … or a phonetic hint to the ends of 18-, 27-, 48- and 62- Across |
| 34% | FLIGHT | 6 | "The ___ of the Phoenix," 1965 film starring James Stewart ... or part of a New Year's wish highlighted in this puzzle |
| 33% | COLDOPEN | 8 | Start of each "S.N.L." episode ... or a hint to the initials of the words in 17-, 24-, 35- and 47-Across |
| 33% | GRAPES | 6 | Twelve ___, fruits eaten as a Spanish New Year's Eve tradition to bring luck to each month of the new year |
| 33% | YOULLPAYFORTHIS | 15 | Cry from someone seeking revenge … or a hint to the ends of 16-, 22-, 37- and 49-Across |
| 33% | MISTLETOE | 9 | Plant kept under the pillow by singletons in an Irish New Year's Eve tradition to help them dream of their future partners |
| 33% | GRAPES | 6 | Twelve ___, Spanish New Year tradition to bring in a year of prosperity |
| 32% | TWO | 3 | Pair count or the next number in a New Year's countdown (go to 45d to find out what you can do next year) |
| 32% | FOUR | 4 | Beatles count or the next number in a New Year's countdown (go to 35d to find out what you can do next year) |
| 32% | THREE | 5 | Trio number or the next number in a New Year's countdown (go to 37d to find out what you can do next year) |
| 32% | YOUREFIRED | 10 | Dreaded cry from a boss ... or a hint to the ends of 18-, 23-, 40- and 53-Across |
| 32% | SEVEN | 5 | Oft lucky number or the next number in a New Year's countdown (go to 18d to find out what you can do next year) |
| 32% | NINE | 4 | Cat lives count or the next number in a New Year's countdown (go to 3d to find out what you can do next year) |
| 32% | SEEMEAFTERCLASS | 15 | Ominous request from a teacher ... or a hint to the first words (and following letters!) of 17-, 26- and 43-Across |
| 32% | LETSCALLITADAY | 14 | "I think we're done here" … or a hint to translating each of the four shaded words in this puzzle |
| 32% | CAPITAL | 7 | With 31-Down, proceeds from the sale of an asset … or a hint to understanding six answers in this puzzle |
| 32% | EIGHT | 5 | Number that sounds like "ate" or the next number in a New Year's countdown (go to 7d to find out what you can do next year) |
| 32% | DEADENDS | 8 | Unfruitful paths ... or a description of both words in the answers to the seven starred clues? |
| 31% | BACKTOBACK | 10 | How TV episodes are binge-watched ... or how to turn each word in the answers to the starred clues into a new phrase |
| 31% | COMPASS | 7 | Provider of directions ... or a hint to the four "+" shapes in this puzzle's grid |
| 31% | AFFIX | 5 | Add-on to the start or end of a word stem (as in 17-, 25-, 35-, 49- and 57-Across) |