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

• discerning
• insightful
• perceptive
• prudent
• sagacious
• sage
• sapient

Verb (1)

• acquaint
• advise
• apprise
• brief
• catch up
• clear
• clue (in)
• enlighten
• familiarize
• fill in
• hip
• inform
• instruct
• tell
• verse

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

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Accessory-wise, small silver details come to play courtesy of Alaïa, Marge Sherwood, and Completedworks. —Laura Jackson, Vogue, 28 Feb. 2023

Wayne and Wanda Wanda is a wise person who has loved, lost and been to therapy. —Wayne And Wanda, Anchorage Daily News, 25 Feb. 2023

Even Steven Spielberg paid homage to Truffaut, casting him in Close Encounters of the Third Kind as Lacombe, the French scientist whose wise-child countenance and otherworldly empathy could communicate across nations and with aliens. —Armond White, National Review, 24 Feb. 2023

Ready-to-wear-wise, think less structured silhouettes and a gentler take on the trend. —Georgia Trodd, Glamour, 23 Feb. 2023

Just across the curtain are three women: the wacky, wig-swapping Mikey (Sally Phillips), a wise, curmudgeonly older woman, Judy (Miriam Margolyes) and a quiet but busy young mother, Imaan (Rakhee Thakrar). —Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2023

Using the increasing knowledge scientists have about the brain and human behaviour, Loehr and Ohlsson Walker demonstrate how individuals and teams can become better at decision-making and so opt for wise choices. —Roger Trapp, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2023

And is this a wise idea if he's got to stay in the game now? —Dan Snierson, EW.com, 20 Feb. 2023

Logical Mercury also checks in with wise Chiron, reminding us that there's more to life than our momentary whims. —Tarot Astrologers, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2023

Verb

Team-wise the Guards rank third in the AL with 14 homers from the ninth inning on. —Paul Hoynes, cleveland, 28 July 2022

For Bank of America, there is a series of far deeper shifts taking place globally that investors need to wise up to. —Declan Harty, Fortune, 10 June 2022

Lighting and camera wise our choices strove to always be eye to eye with the characters, never looking down on them. —Emiliano Granada, Variety, 28 May 2022

Performance-wise the Surface Laptop Studio feels underpowered. —Ewan Spence, Forbes, 30 Apr. 2022

However, outdoor companies are slowly starting to wise up. —Jennifer Davis-flynn, Outside Online, 16 Mar. 2022

Relatively safe seeding-wise a few weeks ago, Xavier lost six of its last seven to fall to the danger zone on the bubble. —Scott Gleeson, USA TODAY, 13 Mar. 2022

Moreover, in the fullness of time, hyenas, like guinea pigs, might wise up and become more docile and friendly. —Joe Queenan, WSJ, 20 Jan. 2022

Numbers wise the Tide’s top 10 offense and defense have a shot against Georgia, but the eye test tells you no way. —Joseph Goodman | [e-mail], al, 2 Dec. 2021

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

See More

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

See More

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