wise

1 of 5

adjective

ˈwīz 

wiser; wisest

1

a

: characterized by wisdom : marked by deep understanding, keen discernment, and a capacity for sound judgment

b

: exercising or showing sound judgment : prudent

a wise investor

2

a

: evidencing or hinting at the possession of inside information : knowing

b

: possessing inside information

the police got wise to his whereabouts

c

: crafty, shrewd

d

: aware of or informed about a particular matter

—usually used in the comparative in negative constructions with the

was none the wiser about their plans

3

: insolent, smart-alecky, fresh

a tough kid with a wise mouth

4

archaic : skilled in magic or divination

wisely adverb

wiseness noun

wise

2 of 5

verb (1)

wised; wising

intransitive verb

: to become informed or knowledgeable : learn

—used with up

transitive verb

: to give instruction or information to : teach

—usually used with up

wise him up about procedures

wise

3 of 5

noun

: manner, way

in any wise

Old age seemed in no wise to have dulled him, but to have sharpened …

—Herman Melville

wise

4 of 5

verb (2)

wised; wising

transitive verb

1

chiefly Scotland

a

: direct, guide

b

: advise, persuade

2

chiefly Scotland : to divert or impel in a given direction : send

-wise

5 of 5

adverb combining form

1

a

: in the manner of

crabwise

fanwise

b

: in the position or direction of

slantwise

clockwise

2

: with regard to : in respect of

dollarwise

Synonyms

Adjective

• prudent
• insightful

Verb (1)

• inform
• advise
• tell
• instruct

Choose the Right Synonym for wise

wise, sage, sapient, judicious, prudent, sensible, sane mean having or showing sound judgment.

wise suggests great understanding of people and of situations and unusual discernment and judgment in dealing with them.

wise beyond his tender years

sage suggests wide experience, great learning, and wisdom.

the sage advice of my father

sapient suggests great sagacity and discernment.

the sapient musings of an old philosopher

judicious stresses a capacity for reaching wise decisions or just conclusions.

judicious parents using kindness and discipline in equal measure

prudent suggests the exercise of restraint guided by sound practical wisdom and discretion.

a prudent decision to wait out the storm

sensible applies to action guided and restrained by good sense and rationality.

a sensible woman who was not fooled by flattery

sane stresses mental soundness, rationality, and levelheadedness.

remained sane even in times of crises

Examples of wise in a Sentence

Adjective

I'm a little wiser now than I was back then.

The wisest course of action would be to leave.

That was a wise choice.

Many have benefited from her wise counsel.

wised him up to some of the more effective tricks of salesmanship

she eventually wised up to the fact that he was taking advantage of her

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The wise stargazer brings warm clothes, bug spray and snacks — and takes breaks from staring at the sky every 30 minutes or so. —Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025

For investors, is the resolve to assume tariff threats are bluffs and the impact easily handled a wise stance based on lessons learned in the April overshoot sell-off? —Michael Santoli, CNBC, 12 July 2025

Verb

Wasn’t that the same approach Miami took with Taylor and Davis before the team wised up and signed Pro Bowler Brent Grimes? —Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 30 May 2025

Longman seems equally confident crossing from the left or right, unlike Barnett, who lost some of his threat once opposition full-backs started to wise up and show him inside on to his weaker left foot. —Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 9 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English wis, from Old English wīs; akin to Old High German wīs wise, Old English witan to know — more at wit

Noun

Middle English, from Old English wīse; akin to Old High German wīsa manner, Greek eidos form, idein to see — more at wit

Verb (2)

Middle English, from Old English wīsian; akin to Old Norse vīsa to show the way, Old English wīs wise

Adverb combining form

Middle English, from Old English -wīsan, from wīse manner

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (1)

1905, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing wise

• a word to the wise
• crack wise
• got wise to
• in no wise
• penny-wise
• penny-wise and/but pound-foolish
• put/make (someone) wise to
• weather-wise
• wise guy
• wise in the ways of
• wise man
• wise to
• worldly wise

Rhymes for wise

• ais
• ayes
• buys
• cries
• dies
• dries
• actualize
• antagonize
• apologise
• apologize
• capitalize
• categorize

Kids Definition

wise

1 of 4 noun

ˈwīz 

: manner sense 2b

—used in such phrases as in any wise, in no wise, in this wise

wise

2 of 4 adjective

wiser; wisest

1

: having or showing wisdom, good sense, or good judgment : sensible

a wise person

a wise investment

2

: having special or secret information : informed

I was wise to their plans

3

: boldly rude or disrespectful : impudent

wisely adverb

wise

3 of 4 verb

wised; wising

: to make or become informed or smart

—used with up

wise up if you want to get ahead

-wise

4 of 4 adverb combining form

ˌwīz

1

a

: in the manner of

b

: in the position or direction of

slantwise

clockwise

2

: with regard to : in respect of

Etymology

Noun

Old English wīse "way, manner"

Adjective

Old English wīs "showing good judgment or intelligence"

Adverb combining form

derived from Old English wīse "manner"

Biographical Definition

Wise 1 of 2

biographical name (1)

ˈwīz 

Stephen Samuel 1874–1949 American (Hungarian-born) rabbi

Wise

2 of 2

biographical name (2)

Thomas James 1859–1937 English bibliophile and forger