wise
Pluralwises
- 1Able to make good choices because you understand life and learn from experience.
Like an old tree that has lived through many storms and still stands strong.
My grandmother is very wise about handling money.
It was a wise choice to leave the party early.
UsageSay it was wise to wait.
Similarsensible, prudent, sage, judicious, shrewd
Oppositeimprovident
- 2Knowing the truth about something, especially something hidden.
Like knowing exactly where someone hid the cookies.
The kids were wise to their teacher's little tricks.
Don't try to fool her. She's wise to that game.
UsageSay she's wise to your tricks.
- 3To find out the truth about something, or to tell someone else about it.
Like suddenly noticing a trick you had missed before.
You need to wise up about how loans really work.
He finally wised up and stopped trusting them.
UsageSay he finally wised up.
Note
Less common meanings
- 4
- 5To slowly grow more sensible and gain good judgment over time.
Similarmature
- 6A way, manner, or method of doing something.
In such wise that all the beasts, great and small, came to the court save Reynard the Fox.
1481, William Caxton, The History of Reynard the Fox^(https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Historye_of_Reynard_the_Foxe/capitulo_.primo._(2))Here, wise means way, so in such wise means in such a way.A riven hood was pulled across his eyes; The token of him being upon this wise Made for a sign of Lust.
1866, Algernon Swinburne, A Ballad of LifeHere, wise means way or manner, so upon this wise means in this way.Note
- 7To teach or advise someone.
- 8In some dialects, to guide or steer someone or something in a direction.
- 9To make something turn or change direction.
Showing meanings only.
Practice
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Origins
From Old English wīs, meaning "wise." It is related to German weise and Dutch wijs.
Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 3 facts
- Wise descends from Old English wīs. en.wiktionary.org
- Old English wīs meant wise. en.wiktionary.org
- Wise is related to German weise and Dutch wijs. en.wiktionary.org
It comes from the Old English word wīse. That word came from Proto-Germanic *wīsō. The English word "guise" grew from the same root by a different path.
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts
- The noun wise comes from Old English wīse. en.wiktionary.org
- Old English wīse descends from Proto-Germanic *wīsō. en.wiktionary.org
- English guise shares the noun wise's origin but reached English by a different route. en.wiktionary.org