| 100% | PLAYINGCATCHUP | 14 | Trying to overcome a late start, say |
| 69% | PLAYCATCHUP | 11 | Work to overcome a late start |
| 51% | INOT | 4 | Trying to break a tie, say |
| 51% | PRY | 3 | Try to open a jar, say |
| 51% | VEER | 4 | Try to avoid a crash, say |
| 51% | SLIDIN | 6 | Tried to avoid a tag, say |
| 51% | SWUNG | 5 | Tried to hit a fastball, say |
| 51% | SLID | 4 | Tried to avoid a tag, say |
| 51% | VEERS | 5 | Tries to avoid a pothole, say |
| 51% | SWATS | 5 | Tries to murder a mosquito, say |
| 51% | CALLINGIN | 9 | Trying to win a radio contest, say |
| 51% | SLEEPIN | 7 | Get a later start to the morning |
| 51% | DIALIN | 6 | Try to reach a talk show, say |
| 51% | STANDONONESTOES | 15 | Try to get a better view, say |
| 51% | NAMEDROP | 8 | Try to impress at a party, say |
| 51% | NAMEDROP | 8 | Try to impress in a conversation, say |
| 51% | RAN | 3 | Tried to catch a moving bus, say |
| 51% | SHOOS | 5 | Tries to send away a housefly, say |
| 49% | REFRESHES | 9 | Tries to fix a site-loading error, say |
| 48% | REACHIN | 7 | Try to get something from a grab bag, say |
| 48% | YAPSAT | 6 | Tries to be a good watchdog, say (2 wds.) |
| 48% | SAGES | 5 | Tries to rid a space of evil spirits, say |
| 48% | SHOVE | 5 | Try to get into a crowded subway car, say |
| 47% | DILEMMA | 7 | To eat a late lunch or wait until dinner, say |
| 46% | TIMETRAVEL | 10 | Move to a later date, say |
| 45% | DIG | 3 | Try to uncover cookie-dough chunks in a pint of ice cream, say |
| 45% | ACTION | 6 | Directors say this to start a scene |
| 44% | STEPIN | 6 | Start to break up a fight, say |
| 41% | OVERSLEEP | 9 | Get a late start |
| 41% | SLEEPSIN | 8 | Gets a late start? |