WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
wise1 /waɪz/USA pronunciation
adj., wis•er, wis•est, v., wised, wis•ing.
adj.
v.
wise•ly, adv.
wise2 /waɪz/USA pronunciation n.
-wise, suffix.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026adj.
- having or showing understanding and good judgment:a wise decision.[t + be + ~ (+ of + object) + to + verb]It was not very wise of him to be rude.
- having or showing deep knowledge or learning.
v.
- wise up, [Slang.]to (cause to) become aware;
to (cause to) learn correct or right information: [no object]He finally wised up to what they were doing to him.[~ + object + up]They wised him up to what they were doing.
- Idioms be or get wise to, [Slang.]to be or become aware of;
learn:He is wise to our plans. - Idioms get wise, [Slang.]to become presumptuous or impertinent.
wise•ly, adv.
- wise is an adjective, wisdom is a noun, wisely is an adverb:She is a wise shopper. She has a lot of wisdom for her age. They spent their money wisely.
wise2 /waɪz/USA pronunciation n.
- [countable]
- way;
manner:In no wise is it true.
-wise, suffix.
- Pronouns-wise is used to form adjectives and adverbs with the meaning "in a particular manner, position, or direction'':clockwise (= moving in a direction like the hands of a clock).
- -wise is also used to form adverbs with the meaning "with reference to'':Timewise we can finish the work, but qualitywise, I'm not so sure.
wise1
(wīz),USA pronunciation adj., wis•er, wis•est, v., wised, wis•ing.
adj.
v.t.
wise′ly, adv.
wise2 (wīz),USA pronunciation n.
wise3 (wīz),USA pronunciation v.t., wised, wis•ing.
Wise (wīz),USA pronunciation n.
-wise,
adj.
- 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 Termsinformed;
in the know:You're wise, so why not give us the low-down? - [Archaic.]having knowledge of magic or witchcraft.
- be or 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 or 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.
v.t.
- [Slang.]to make wise or aware:I'll wise you, kid.
- 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.
- bef. 900; Middle English (adjective, adjectival), Old English wīs; cognate with Dutch wijs, German weise, Old Norse vīss, Gothic -weis; akin to wit1
- 1. 2. sage, sensible, sagacious, intelligent.
- 1. 2. foolish.
wise2 (wīz),USA pronunciation n.
- way of proceeding or considering;
manner;
fashion (usually used in combination or in certain phrases):otherwise;in any wise;in no wise.
- bef. 900; Middle English, Old English: way, manner; melody (Old English); cognate with Dutch wijze, German Weise manner, melody, Old Norse vīsa short poem, Danish vise ballad; akin to Greek eîdos form, shape
wise3 (wīz),USA pronunciation v.t., wised, wis•ing.
- Scottish Terms[Chiefly Scot.]
- to instruct.
- to induce or advise.
- to show the way to;
guide.
- Scottish Termsto direct the course of;
cause to turn.
- bef. 900; Middle English wisen, Old English wīsian to show the way, guide, direct, akin to wīs wise1; cognate with Old High German wīsan, Old Norse vīsa
Wise (wīz),USA pronunciation n.
- Biographical Stephen Samuel, 1874–1949, U.S. rabbi, theologian, and Zionist leader;
born in Hungary.
-wise,
- Pronounsa suffixal use of wise 2 in adverbs denoting manner, position, direction, reference, etc.:counterclockwise; marketwise;timewise.Cf. -ways.
- 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.
'wisely' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):