wise

[ wahyz ]

/ waɪz /

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adjective, wis·er, wis·est.

having the power of discerning and judging properly as to what is true or right; possessing discernment, judgment, or discretion.

characterized by or showing such power; judicious or prudent: a wise decision.

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, wis·ing.

Slang. to make wise or aware: I'll wise you, kid.

Verb Phrases

wise up, Slang. 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.

OTHER WORDS FOR wise

1 sage, sensible, sagacious, intelligent.

See synonyms for wise on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR wise

2 foolish.

See antonyms for wise on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about wise

get wise, Slang.

to become informed.
to be or become presumptuous or impertinent: Don't get wise with me, young man!

put / set someone wise, Slang. 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 to, Slang. familiar or aware; cognizant of; no longer deceived by a lie, confidence game, trick, or misdirection: In the end, the investors were wise to the fraud.Also be / get wise to .

Origin of wise

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 wit¹, wit²

OTHER WORDS FROM wise

wise·ly, adverb

Other definitions for wise (2 of 5)

wise²

[ wahyz ]

/ waɪz /

noun

way of proceeding or considering; manner; fashion (usually used in combination or in certain phrases): otherwise;in any wise;in no wise.

Origin of wise

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”

Other definitions for wise (3 of 5)

wise³

[ wahyz ]

/ waɪz /

verb (used with object), wised, wis·ing.

Chiefly Scot.

to instruct.
to induce or advise.
to show the way to; guide.

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

Origin of wise

First recorded before 900; Middle English wisen, “to advise, reveal, guide,”Old English wīsian “to show the way, guide, direct,” akin to wīs wise¹; cognate with Old High German wīsan, Old Norse vīsa “to point out, indicate”

Other definitions for wise (4 of 5)

Wise

[ wahyz ]

/ waɪz /

noun

Isaac May·er

[mahy-er], /ˈmaɪ ər/, 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.

Other definitions for wise (5 of 5)

-wise

a suffixal use of wise² in adverbs denoting manner, position, direction, reference, etc.: counterclockwise; edgewise; marketwise; timewise.

Compare -ways.

words often confused with -wise

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.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use wise in a sentence

He describes himself as “lonelier, but wiser, with a bit of rage in me.”
Meet Abdel-Majed Abdel Bary, aka L. Jinny, the Ali G of Evil|Olivia Nuzzi|August 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Viewers leave with a grin, but are no wiser about the frightening symptoms of ALS.
#IceBucketChallenge Wisdom From 'Jackass' Steve-O|Kevin Zawacki|August 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Though a wiser writer might have gently let me know how that is the very sign that meant I would have to write about it.
Who Has the Right to Write About War?|Emily Gray Tedrowe|July 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Jetha and Ryan, with boldness, humor, and high style, offer a better, wiser, and healthier alternative.
New Year’s Reading List: Books to Transform Your Sad Life|David Masciotra|January 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST

But, if that ever was his inclination, wiser men—like Khamenei —prevailed.
Gamechanger: Inside the Historic Iran Nuclear Deal|Christopher Dickey|November 24, 2013|DAILY BEAST
To be wiser than other men is to be honester than they; and strength of mind is only courage to see and speak the truth.
Pearls of Thought|Maturin M. Ballou
Needless to say, the Worcestershire baronet had returned to his ancestral acres a sadder but a wiser man.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills
Perhaps their course is wiser than that which hot impatience would prompt—nay, I believe it is.
Glances at Europe|Horace Greeley
It was with the utmost difficulty that his wiser subordinates got him to disarm the sepoy regiments in Agra itself.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
It was well that Monsieur de Biancourt was wiser than many of his crew, whose sole cry was to kill them all.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various

British Dictionary definitions for wise (1 of 3)

wise¹

/ (waɪz) /

adjective

possessing, showing, or prompted by wisdom or discernment

prudent; sensible

shrewd; craftya wise plan

well-informed; erudite

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

slang (postpositive often foll by to) in the know, esp possessing inside information (about)

archaic possessing powers of magic

slang, mainly US and Canadian cocksure or insolent

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

put wise (often foll by to) slang to inform or warn (of)

verb

See wise up

Derived forms of wise

wisely, adverbwiseness, noun

Word Origin for wise

Old English wīs; related to Old Norse vīss, Gothic weis, German weise

British Dictionary definitions for wise (2 of 3)

wise²

/ (waɪz) /

noun

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

Word Origin for wise

Old English wīse manner; related to Old Saxon wīsa, German Weise, Old Norse vīsa verse, Latin vīsus face

British Dictionary definitions for wise (3 of 3)

-wise

adv combining form

Also: -ways indicating direction or mannerclockwise; likewise

with reference toprofitwise; businesswise

Word Origin for -wise

Old English -wisan; see wise ²

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with wise

wise

In addition to the idioms beginning with wise

wise guy
wise up to

also see:

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

wise

OTHER WORDS FOR wise

OPPOSITES FOR wise

Idioms about wise

Origin of wise

OTHER WORDS FROM wise

Other definitions for wise (2 of 5)

Origin of wise

Other definitions for wise (3 of 5)

Origin of wise

Other definitions for wise (4 of 5)

Other definitions for wise (5 of 5)

words often confused with -wise

Words related to wise

How to use wise in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for wise (1 of 3)

Derived forms of wise

Word Origin for wise

British Dictionary definitions for wise (2 of 3)

Word Origin for wise

British Dictionary definitions for wise (3 of 3)

Word Origin for -wise

Other Idioms and Phrases with wise