adj

wise

wyz

adj

Showing good judgment, sound sense, or the benefit of experience.

"It would be wise to save some of the money instead of spending it all."

"Her grandmother always gave wise advice about relationships."

Disrespectful or cheeky, especially in speech (informal).

"Don't get wise with me, young man."

"He made a wise remark and got sent to the principal's office."

verb

To become informed or alert to something, usually as "wise up."

"She finally wised up to his constant excuses."

"It's time you wised up and started taking this seriously."

noun

A way, manner, or fashion of doing something (now mostly used in fixed phrases like "in no wise" or "otherwise").

"In no wise did he intend to offend anyone."

How to Use Wise

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishHaving good judgment and sound experience — or, in slang, being cheeky or smart-mouthed.

Common mistake

The old noun sense ("manner, way") survives mainly inside compound words like "likewise" and "otherwise," not as a standalone word in modern speech.

Easily confused with

wisdom →

Common pairings

wise decision wise up wise old man get wise with someone

Word Forms

wiser comparative, more wise comparative, wised past tense, wised past tense, wises plural, wises singular, wises singular, wisest superlative, most wise superlative

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Can you complete this real example?

It would be _____ to save some of the money instead of spending it all.

Etymology

From Old English wis, meaning "knowledgeable" or "wise," tracing back to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to see" — the same root that gives us "wit" and "vision."

Synonyms

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astute clairvoyant deep frood grounded judicious oracular perspicacious politic profound prudent quick-witted

Antonyms

unwise foolish

Related Words

slow political absurd deep tall shallow unwise intelligent

Rhymes for wise

Ise rise vise Lise arise noise raise anise guise poise Elise Boise

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