wise

¹ American  

[wahyz] / waɪz /

adjective

wiser, wisest

1. 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

2. characterized by or showing such power; judicious or prudent.

   a wise decision.

   Antonyms:

   foolish

3. possessed of or characterized by scholarly knowledge or learning; learned; erudite.

   wise in the law.

4. having knowledge or information as to facts, circumstances, etc..

   We are wiser for their explanations.

5. Slang. informed; in the know.

   You're wise, so why not give us the lowdown?

6. Archaic. having knowledge of magic or witchcraft.

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verb (used with object)

wised, wising

1. Slang. to make wise or aware.

   I'll wise you, kid.

verb phrase

1. wise up to make or become aware of a secret or generally unknown fact, situation, attitude, etc..

   They wised him up on how to please the boss.

   She never wised up to the fact that the joke was on her.

idioms

1. get wise,

   1. to become informed.

   2. to be or become presumptuous or impertinent.

      Don't get wise with me, young man!

2. 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.

3. 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

1. way of proceeding or considering; manner; fashion (usually used in combination or in certain phrases).

   otherwise;

   in any wise;

   in no wise.

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wise ³ American  

[wahyz] / waɪz /

verb (used with object)

wised, wising

1. Chiefly Scot.

   1. to instruct.

   2. to induce or advise.

   3. to show the way to; guide.

2. Scot. to direct the course of; cause to turn.

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Wise ⁴ American  

[wahyz] / waɪz /

noun

1. Isaac Mayer 1819–1900, U.S. rabbi and educator, born in Bohemia: founder of Reform Judaism in the U.S.

2. Stephen Samuel, 1874–1949, U.S. rabbi, theologian, and Zionist leader; born in Hungary.

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-wise ⁵ American  

1. a suffixal use of wise in adverbs denoting manner, position, direction, reference, etc..

   counterclockwise; edgewise; marketwise; timewise.

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wise ¹ British  

/ waɪz /

adjective

1. possessing, showing, or prompted by wisdom or discernment

2. prudent; sensible

3. shrewd; crafty

   a wise plan

4. well-informed; erudite

5. aware, informed, or knowing (esp in the phrase none the wiser )

6. slang in the know, esp possessing inside information (about)

7. archaic possessing powers of magic

8. slang cocksure or insolent

9. informal (often foll by to) to be or become aware or informed (of something) or to face up (to facts)

10. slang (often foll by to) to inform or warn (of)

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verb

1. See wise up

-wise ² British  

combining form

1. Also: -ways.  indicating direction or manner

   clockwise

   likewise

2. with reference to

   profitwise

   businesswise

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wise ³ British  

/ waɪz /

noun

1. archaic way, manner, fashion, or respect (esp in the phrases any wise, in no wise )

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wise More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing wise

• get wise to
• none the wiser
• penny wise and pound foolish
• put wise
• sadder but wiser
• word to the wise

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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

• wisely adverb
• wiseness noun

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.

Example Sentences

Given that you say one brother is not reliable and the other brother is responsible half of the time, it does not seem wise to enter a financial arrangement with them.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 14, 2026

"Our government appreciated it as very fortunate and wise behaviour for its own sake," Kim Yo Jong said on Monday.

From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026

"Craig was my mentor, wise counsel, passionate advisor, and great friend. He was the distinguished elder statesman with a reservoir of Olympic knowledge and experience which he shared willingly and to great effect," Coe added.

From BBC • Apr. 6, 2026

Yet, Mascaro and his equally youthful co-screenwriter Tibério Azul are wise beyond their years.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

She has just a moment on this old, wise earth, this earth that will always be wiser than its inhabitants.

From "Willodeen" by Katherine Applegate

Related Words

• astute
• aware
• careful
• educated
• enlightened
• experienced
• informed
• judicious
• knowledgeable
• perceptive
• prudent
• rational
• sagacious
• sane
• sensible
• smart
• thoughtful
• wary
• well-informed