Yes. Words run in all eight straight directions: across, up and down, and diagonally, forwards or backwards. You can select either end of a word first.
A hidden word can lie along any straight line in the grid, in either direction.
The eight directions
- Left to right and right to left.
- Top to bottom and bottom to top.
- Four diagonals.
Drag or tap from one end of the word to the other. It makes no difference which end you start from, and a straight line is required, so a bent selection never counts (which copy counts).
For a scanning method, read the Word Search tips and strategy.