wise

[ wahyz ]

/ waɪz /

adjective, wis·er, wis·est.

having the power of discerning and judging properly as to what is true or right; possessing discernment, judgment, or discretion.

characterized by or showing such power; judicious or prudent: a wise decision.

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 low-down?

Archaic. having knowledge of magic or witchcraft.

verb (used with object), wised, wis·ing.

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

Verb Phrases

wise up, 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.

Idioms for wise

be/get wise to, Slang. to be or become cognizant of or no longer deceived by; catch on: to get wise to a fraud.

get wise, Slang.

to become informed.
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.

Origin of wise

before 900; Middle English (adj.), Old English wīs; cognate with Dutch wijs, German weise, Old Norse vīss, Gothic -weis; akin to wit¹

SYNONYMS FOR wise

1, 2 sage, sensible, sagacious, intelligent.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR wise ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR wise

1, 2 foolish.

SEE ANTONYMS FOR wise ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM wise

wise·ly, adverb

Words nearby wise

wisdom of jesus, son of sirach, wisdom of jesus, the son of sirach, wisdom of solomon, wisdom teeth, wisdom tooth, wise, wise guy, wise men, wise up, wise up to, wise-ass

Example sentences from the Web for wisely

I called it “ding-dong diplomacy”; Governor Richardson wisely pointed out that “basketball diplomacy” is better than none.

Pyongyang Primer: Kenneth Bae Comes Home |Kevin Bleyer |November 15, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Of course he did, probably having been wisely instructed by his African American parents that the police are not his friend.

When Police Violence Gets Personal |Gene Robinson |October 5, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Goldman, wisely, does not raise a raft of questions that drown a writer in the answering.

Mexico City: Francisco Goldman’s Other Lost Love |Jason Berry |September 25, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Wisely, we did, and then made for a small café that served a clientele of recently stranded refugees.

Watching ISIS Come to Power Again |Elliot Ackerman |September 7, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

The old showbiz saying is “you gotta have a gimmick,” and Minaj has wisely gotten a few.

Nicki Minaj’s Ass-tastic ‘Anaconda’ Video and the Curse of the Butt Career |Kevin Fallon |August 21, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
There are many men amongst us who, in Scripture phrase, refuse to hear the voice of the charmer, charm he never so wisely.

Ancient Faiths And Modern |Thomas Inman
I think that Xerxes, in the matter of the Hellespont, did wisely and well.

Border and Bastille |George A. Lawrence
He therefore most wisely enforced all those precepts as inseparable, unchangeable, and unrepealable.

Tracts on the Sabbath |Various
"May be some big shooting," replied Washington, nodding his head, wisely.

A Voyage with Captain Dynamite |Charles Edward Rich
We recognize this in our geography and history; we may wisely recognize it also in our reading.

Special Method in the Reading of Complete English Classics |Charles McMurry

British Dictionary definitions for wisely (1 of 2)

wise ¹

/ (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 (postpositive often foll by to) in the know, esp possessing inside information (about)

archaic possessing powers of magic

slang, mainly US and Canadian cocksure or insolent

be wise or get wise (often foll by to) informal to be or become aware or informed (of something) or to face up (to facts)

put wise (often foll by to) slang to inform or warn (of)

verb

See wise up

Derived forms of wise

wisely, adverb wiseness, noun

Word Origin for wise

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

British Dictionary definitions for wisely (2 of 2)

wise ²

/ (waɪz) /

noun

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

Word Origin for wise

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

Idioms and Phrases with wisely

wise

In addition to the idioms beginning with wise

wise guy
wise up to

also see:

get wise to
none the wiser
penny wise and pound foolish
put wise
sadder but wiser
word to the wise

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

wise

adjective, wis·er, wis·est.

verb (used with object), wised, wis·ing.

Verb Phrases

Idioms for wise

Origin of wise

SYNONYMS FOR wise

ANTONYMS FOR wise

OTHER WORDS FROM wise

Words nearby wise

Example sentences from the Web for wisely

British Dictionary definitions for wisely (1 of 2)

adjective

verb

Derived forms of wise

Word Origin for wise

British Dictionary definitions for wisely (2 of 2)

noun

Word Origin for wise

Idioms and Phrases with wisely

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

wise

adjective, wis·er, wis·est.

verb (used with object), wised, wis·ing.

Verb Phrases

Idioms for wise

Origin of wise

SYNONYMS FOR wise

ANTONYMS FOR wise

OTHER WORDS FROM wise

Words nearby wise

Words related to wisely

Example sentences from the Web for wisely

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for wisely (1 of 2)

adjective

verb

Derived forms of wise

Word Origin for wise

British Dictionary definitions for wisely (2 of 2)

noun

Word Origin for wise

Idioms and Phrases with wisely

British Dictionary definitions for wisely (1 of 2)