51Թ

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View synonyms for

wise

1

[wahyz]

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: , , ,

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

    a wise decision.

    Antonyms:

  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.

verb (used with object)

wised, wising 

  1. Slang.to make wise or aware.

    I'll wise you, kid.

verb phrase

  1. Slangto 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

2

[wahyz]

noun

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

    otherwise;

    in any wise;

    in no wise.

wise

3

[wahyz]

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.

Wise

4

[wahyz]

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.

-wise

5

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

    counterclockwise; edgewise; marketwise; timewise.

wise

1

/ ɲɪ /

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. slangin the know, esp possessing inside information (about)

  7. archaicpossessing powers of magic

  8. slangcocksure 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)

“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

verb

  1. See wise up

“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

-wise

2

combining form

  1. Also: -ways.indicating direction or manner

    clockwise

    likewise

  2. with reference to

    profitwise

    businesswise

“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

wise

3

/ ɲɪ /

noun

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

“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
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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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Other 51Թ Forms

  • wisely adverb
  • ˈɾԱ noun
  • ˈɾ adverb
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of wise1

First recorded before 900; Middle English wis(e), Old English ī; cognate with Dutch wijs, German weise, Old Norse ī, 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 ī “verse, stanza, short poem,” Danish vise “ballad”; akin to Greek îDz (from wîDz ) “form, shape”

Origin of wise3

First recorded before 900; Middle English wisen, “to advise, reveal, guide,” Old English ī “to show the way, guide, direct,” akin to ī wise 1; cognate with Old High German īan, Old Norse ī “to point out, indicate”
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of wise1

Old English ī ; related to Old Norse ī, Gothic weis, German weise

Origin of wise2

Old English -wisan; see wise ²

Origin of wise3

Old English īe manner; related to Old Saxon īa, German Weise, Old Norse ī verse, Latin īܲ face
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Idioms and Phrases

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.

In addition to the idioms beginning with wise, also see 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

Examples have not been reviewed.

Justice Minister Naomi Long also criticised the communities minister, adding: "I don't think his comments were measured or wise."

From

We have been here before, and we would be wise to heed history’s caution.

From

She wouldn't be drawn on her next writing project because "it's not wise to announce things prematurely", but she said she still has time to juggle both her writing and her activism work.

From

Her inner work has been a wise investment, leading Febos to feel more freedom in her authorial vision, perhaps even moving toward fiction.

From

In hindsight, that was a wise and obvious career move, but at the time Exodus was as much of a viable young band with a following in the Bay Area.

From

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When To Use

What does-wisemean?

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 í, meaning “way, manner; style, melody.” Yes, melody. Discover why at our entry for the related term verse.

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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