wise
adjective
having the power of discerning and judging properly as to what is true or right; possessing discernment, judgment, or discretion.
wise
1 American
[wahyz]
/ waɪz /
adjective
-
wiser,
comparative
-
wisest
superlative
-
having the power of discerning and judging properly as to what is true or right; possessing discernment, judgment, or discretion.
- Synonyms:
- intelligent, sagacious, sensible, sage
-
characterized by or showing such power; judicious or prudent.
a wise decision.
- Antonyms:
- foolish
-
possessed of or characterized by scholarly knowledge or learning; learned; erudite.
wise in the law.
-
having knowledge or information as to facts, circumstances, etc..
We are wiser for their explanations.
-
Slang. informed; in the know.
You're wise, so why not give us the lowdown?
-
Archaic. having knowledge of magic or witchcraft.
verb (used with object)
wised,
wising
verb phrase
idioms
-
get wise,
-
to become informed.
-
to be or become presumptuous or impertinent.
Don't get wise with me, young man!
-
-
wise to, familiar or aware; cognizant of; no longer deceived by a lie, confidence game, trick, or misdirection: Also beget wise to
In the end, the investors were wise to the fraud.
-
put / set someone wise, to inform a person; let a person in on a secret or generally unknown fact.
Some of the others put him wise to what was going on.
wise
2
American
[wahyz]
/ waɪz /
noun
wise
3
American
[wahyz]
/ waɪz /
verb (used with object)
wised,
wising
-
Chiefly Scot.
-
to instruct.
-
to induce or advise.
-
to show the way to; guide.
-
-
Scot. to direct the course of; cause to turn.
Wise
4
American
[wahyz]
/ waɪz /
noun
-
Isaac Mayer 1819–1900, U.S. rabbi and educator, born in Bohemia: founder of Reform Judaism in the U.S.
-
Stephen Samuel, 1874–1949, U.S. rabbi, theologian, and Zionist leader; born in Hungary.
-wise
5
American
wise
1
British
/ waɪz /
adjective
-
possessing, showing, or prompted by wisdom or discernment
-
prudent; sensible
-
shrewd; crafty
a wise plan
-
well-informed; erudite
-
aware, informed, or knowing (esp in the phrase none the wiser )
-
slang in the know, esp possessing inside information (about)
-
archaic possessing powers of magic
-
slang cocksure or insolent
-
informal (often foll by to) to be or become aware or informed (of something) or to face up (to facts)
-
slang (often foll by to) to inform or warn (of)
verb
-wise
2
British
combining form
-
Also: -ways. indicating direction or manner
clockwise
likewise
-
with reference to
profitwise
businesswise
wise
3
British
/ waɪz /
noun
wise
More Idioms
Usage
What does -wise mean? The suffix -wise meaning “direction” or "a way of doing." It is occasionally used in a variety of everyday terms, particularly to indicate a movement. The form -wise comes from Old English wíse, meaning “way, manner; style, melody.” Yes, melody. Discover why at our entry for the related term verse.
Commonly Confused
The suffix -wise is old in the language in adverbs referring to manner, direction, etc.: crosswise; lengthwise. Coinages like marketwise, saleswise, and weatherwise are often criticized, perhaps because of their association with the media: Otherwise—or moneywise, as they were already saying in the motion-picture industry—Hollywood was at the crest of its supercolossal glory. This suffix should not be confused with the adjective wise1 , which appears in such compound words as streetwise and worldly-wise.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Adjectives
Etymology
Origin of wise1
First recorded before 900; Middle English wis(e), Old English wīs; cognate with Dutch wijs, German weise, Old Norse vīss, Gothic (un)weis “ignorant, unlearned”; akin to wit 1, wit 2
Origin of wise2
First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English: “way, manner; style, melody”; cognate with Dutch wijze, German Weise “tune, melody; (figurative) manner, way,” Old Norse vīsa “verse, stanza, short poem,” Danish vise “ballad”; akin to Greek eîdos (from weîdos ) “form, shape”
Origin of wise3
First recorded before 900; Middle English wisen, “to advise, reveal, guide,” Old English wīsian “to show the way, guide, direct,” akin to wīs wise 1; cognate with Old High German wīsan, Old Norse vīsa “to point out, indicate”
Explanation
The adjective wise describes someone who has experience and a deep understanding. Your wise older sister always gives the best advice. When you make a decision based on careful thought and good judgment, you've made a wise choice. If someone calls you a wise guy, though, it's not a compliment: it's likely to be a criticism of your joke at someone else's expense or your rudeness. To wise off (or sometimes, to be wise), has a similar meaning: to talk back or be disrespectful.
Vocabulary lists containing wise
"The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry
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"Julius Caesar" by William Shakespeare, Act III
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Bright Ideas: Synonyms For "Smart"
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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:
A Prudie reader has some wise words for how to navigate that situation—and readers of the column weigh in on a variety of other dilemmas, too.
From Slate ● Aug. 21, 2026
Michael Kramer, portfolio manager at Mott Capital Management, sees a few reasons why it could be wise to buy some hedges.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 18, 2026
Journal readers are wise, idealistic and knowledgeable and almost invariably have insights that contribute more to any subject than I can.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026
Davis said Panettiere was “an old, wise soul with such a deep heart.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 17, 2026
The slogan shimmers on the suitcase in glittery letters: “If you’re wise, you’ll open this surprise!”
From "The Manifestor Prophecy" by Angie Thomas
The next morning, the judge named attorney Andrea Sheridan Ordin as special master and Dr. Paul H. Wise as independent monitor to enforce the agreement, over the objections of federal officials.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026
Wise said it strengthened its local U.S. program and enhanced investigation and reporting processes among other changes made since its original application was filed.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
Wise said it has improved its procedures, not just in the U.S., but also in the U.K. and Belgium.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 24, 2026
It was an ill-starred pairing, Keegan resigning after only eight months following differences with Ashley and Newcastle's hierarchy, including his former England player Dennis Wise, who was executive director.
From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026
After kissing its mother and father good-bye, it traveled far and wide in search of the mysterious, elusive Wise Witch of the Woods.
From "Beauty Queens" by Libba Bray
In Rio de Janeiro, U.S. -wise Brazilian Businessman Valentim Bougas urged Latin Americans to follow the ex ample of European nations, which met in Paris last summer to canvass their needs.
From Time Magazine Archive
Likewise, New Yorker Music Critic Winthrop Sargeant attacked the suffix -wise, as in taxwise.
From Time Magazine Archive
When the shortcomings of any illustrious man save Borrow are under discussion, 'les defauts de ses qualites' is the criticism- -wise as charitable—which they evoke.
From The Life of George Borrow by Herbert George Jenkins
“She was way wiser beyond her years and now gone too soon,” he added.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 17, 2026
He's a little bit older, a little bit wiser.
From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026
It’s a rare case of a revival that actually works, as Hank, Peggy and Bobby Hill have all grown older but not necessarily wiser.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 30, 2026
There are wiser ways to spend money—for instance, a used Toyota.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 29, 2026
A tilt of her head, a bit of makeup, and she could be older, wiser than her years.
From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny
Among the zaniness there’s an emotional arc, a dance of personal growth and backsliding, and depending on what the scene requires, he might be the dumbest guy in the room or the wisest.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 24, 2025
Whether it is Slot or those on the pitch, then, it is largely Liverpool's wisest heads who are making the difference in the key moments.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2025
But once talks broke down over an extension in Carolina, the Hurricanes decided that the wisest long-term move was to ship him somewhere else.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 15, 2025
As someone who entered a career in music journalism in the 2000s, I might not be the wisest voice to turn to for financial advice.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 15, 2025
They were soon convinced that the wisest course was to enlist in Cluny’s horde.
From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques
Recovered: I hope not too many people were hurt before you wised up.
From Washington Post ● Oct. 17, 2022
That's something people have really wised up to.
From Salon ● Sep. 18, 2022
They wised up at some point, whereas I still hadn’t learned.
From The Verge ● Dec. 13, 2021
Some have wised up to the ways of the Aedes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 11, 2021
The truth is I’ve wised up already—to him.
From "Linked" by Gordon Korman
But now, experts say, Milei is wising up to the game, giving up some campaign promises while maneuvering to secure enough other priorities to claim victory.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 30, 2024
While U.S. players have led the development of retail media networks, European retailers are wising up to the opportunity.
From Reuters ● Jun. 12, 2023
Increasingly, people are wising up to both the company’s serious threat as a monopoly and its willingness to seek domination at the expense of the health of its blue-collar workers.
From Slate ● Nov. 30, 2018
In short, teams appear to be wising up.
From Washington Times ● Jan. 22, 2018
I'm wising you up so you won't hand her any more misery by trying to take her part.
From Cow-Country by B. M. Bower
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
