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Synonyms

wise up

British  

verb

  1. slang (often foll by to) to become or cause to become aware or informed (of)

  2. (tr) to make more intellectually demanding or sophisticated

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

When do you suppose our major universities will wise up to the notion of serving as a free farm club for the NFL and NBA?

From Los Angeles Times May 10, 2025

Brett Baird, the office manager for Green Home Solutions, which does weatherization work in Pennsylvania and New Jersey under agreements with local utilities, said consumers are just beginning to wise up.

From Seattle Times Aug. 22, 2022

There are deals being signed left and right, they say, as more people wise up.

From The Verge Feb. 11, 2022

His son insisted that he wise up on climate change.

From Washington Post Feb. 3, 2020

"He can't pulverize the whole bunch, and he'll never wise up to who's the real sinner," Weary comforted himself.

From The Lonesome Trail and Other Stories by Bower, B. M.

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