| 100% | NEWYEAR | 7 | Time to start a fresh calendar and resolutions |
| 46% | MIDWEEK | 7 | Unusual time to start a vacation |
| 43% | DAWN | 4 | Common time to start on a trip |
| 41% | UPON | 4 | *Pick the words to start a fairy tale! "Once ___ a time ..." |
| 40% | OFT | 3 | Time and again, to a bard |
| 40% | OFT | 3 | Time and again, to a poet |
| 40% | NIGHT | 5 | Time to see stars ... and with 47a, a beloved Christmas carol |
| 40% | COMMAS | 6 | Use inverted __ to start and end a quoted passage |
| 40% | ONEBC | 5 | Time for a fresh start? |
| 40% | NEWDAY | 6 | Time for a fresh start |
| 38% | DOUG | 4 | ___ Williams, first Black quarterback to start in, and win, a 15 Across |
| 38% | UPON | 4 | Pick the words to start your fairy tale! (1/3) "Once ___ a time..." |
| 37% | SPLIT | 5 | Start of the contest answer, and a nudge to finding the rest |
| 37% | NEWLEAF | 7 | Turn this over to make a fresh start |
| 36% | AGEONE | 6 | Time to start walking |
| 36% | ANTES | 5 | Starts a fresh pot |
| 36% | SPRINGBREAK | 11 | Collegians' getaway time, and a hint to this puzzle's circles |
| 36% | TWOAM | 5 | D.S.T. starting time ... or a hint to 42-Across |
| 36% | AGEONE | 6 | Time to start walking, maybe |
| 36% | EVE | 3 | Time to start celebrating, maybe |
| 36% | ENEROS | 6 | Times to start new calendarios |
| 36% | SPILLEDTHEBEANS | 15 | Things got off to a bad start when one trainee tripped and ... |
| 36% | COFFEEBREAK | 11 | Midmorning work time-out, and a hint to this puzzle's circles |
| 36% | BUZZWORDS | 9 | Snazzy jargon, and a hint to the starts of the starred answers |
| 36% | SEVENSEAS | 9 | Global group, and a hint to the starts of the starred answers |
| 35% | CUETHEMUSIC | 11 | Instruction to start playing ... or a hint to the end of 18-, 24-, 49- and 56-Across |
| 35% | ONETWOTHREEFOUR | 15 | Start of a march chant … or a hint to 17-, 27-, 47- and 63-Across |
| 35% | IFIWEREYOU | 10 | Start of some advice … or a phonetic hint to 17-, 24-, 37- and 48-Across |
| 35% | FIRSTSTRING | 11 | Like the starting team, and a hint to the answers to starred clues |
| 35% | LETSHAVESOMEFUN | 15 | "It's party time!" ... or a hint to 17-, 24- and 40-Across |