View synonyms for wise

wise

[ wahyz ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

wiser, wisest.

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.

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

verb phrase

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.

wise

[ wahyz ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

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

wise

[ wahyz ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb (used with object)

wised, wising.

Chiefly Scot.
1. to instruct.
2. to induce or advise.
3. to show the way to; guide.
Scot. to direct the course of; cause to turn.

Wise

⁴

[ wahyz ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

Isaac May·er [mahy, -er], 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

a suffixal use of wise ² in adverbs denoting manner, position, direction, reference, etc.:
counterclockwise; edgewise; marketwise; timewise.

-wise

combining form

Also-ways indicating direction or manner
clockwise
likewise
with reference to
businesswise
profitwise

wise

/ 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.
postpositiveoften foll byto in the know, esp possessing inside information (about)
archaic.
possessing powers of magic
slang.
cocksure or insolent
be wise or get wise informal.
often foll by to to be or become aware or informed (of something) or to face up (to facts)
put wise slang.
often foll by to to inform or warn (of)

verb

See wise up

wise

/ waɪz /

noun

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

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Confusables Note

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.

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Derived Forms

ˈwiseness, noun
ˈwisely, adverb

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Other Words From

wise·ly adverb

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Word History and Origins

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”

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Word History and Origins

Origin of wise¹

Old English -wisan; see wise ²

Origin of wise²

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

Origin of wise³

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

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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

get wise, Slang.
1. to become informed.
2. 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: Also beget wise to.
In the end, the investors were wise to the fraud.

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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Example Sentences

Congolese mining industry analyst Jean-Pierre Okenda said some oversight of the deal would be wise, suggesting parliament and civil society should also be consulted if it was going to serve the interests of the people.

From BBC

Given that, and given the variety of risks measles infection poses for your sight, it would be far wiser not to get it in the first place.

From Salon

And it might be wise to hold off on increased launches following Thursday’s explosion of a SpaceX craft that ripped apart after takeoff from Texas.

From Los Angeles Times

He said he thought it was "wise" not to "play into that" and suggested that lawmakers resort to remote town hall meetings to avoid the heat.

From Salon

In a post on social media, Dead Ringers star Jon Culshaw called Dare the "wisest comedy alchemist and the dearest, dearest friend".

From BBC

Related Words

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

wisdom tooth wiseacre

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