Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Having or showing experience, knowledge, and good judgment: Possessing deep understanding, sound judgment, and the ability to make sensible decisions.
   • Having inside information; knowing: (Informal) Being aware of facts that are not generally known.
   • Rude or disrespectful in a bold way: (Informal, chiefly North American) Behaving in an insolent or impudent manner.

2. Noun:

   • (Archaic) Manner, way, or fashion: A method or mode of doing or being.
   • (Proper noun) A surname: Referring to specific historical figures, such as Stephen Samuel Wise or Isaac Mayer Wise.

Usage and Examples

• Adjective (Good Judgment):
  • It was a wise decision to save money for the future.
  • She is known for her wise counsel.
• Adjective (Having Inside Information):
  • Are you wise to what's really going on?
• Adjective (Impudent):
  • Don't get wise with me, young man!
• Noun (Archaic: Manner):
  • He told the story in a solemn wise. (This usage is now rare.)

Advanced Usage and Idioms

• wise to (someone/something): (Informal) Aware of or informed about someone's true character or a situation.
  • I'm wise to his tricks now; he can't fool me.
• in no wise: (Formal/Archaic) Not at all; in no way.
  • This outcome is in no wise acceptable.
• wise after the event: Knowing what should have been done only after something has happened.
  • It's easy to be wise after the event.
• none the wiser: Not having gained any knowledge or understanding from an experience.
  • He read the manual but was none the wiser.

Variants and Related Words

• wisely (adverb): In a wise manner.
  • He invested his money wisely.
• wisdom (noun): The quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment.
  • She is respected for her wisdom.
• wisecrack (noun/verb): A clever or sarcastic remark.
  • He made a wisecrack about the weather.
• wise guy (noun, informal): A person who makes sarcastic or know-it-all remarks.
  • Don't be such a wise guy.

Synonyms

• Adjective (Judicious): Sage, prudent, sensible, judicious, sagacious.
• Adjective (Knowledgeable): Informed, aware, enlightened.
• Adjective (Impudent): Fresh, impertinent, cheeky, insolent.

Phrasal Verbs / Verb Combinations

• wise up (to): (Informal) To become aware or informed of the true facts.
  • You need to wise up to the realities of the business world.
• put (someone) wise (to): (Informal) To inform someone about something.
  • Let me put you wise to the new office rules.

Related Idioms

• A word to the wise (is sufficient): A hint or brief advice is enough for an intelligent person.
  • I'll just say: be careful who you trust. A word to the wise.
• Penny-wise and pound-foolish: Careful about small amounts of money but wasteful with large sums.
  • Skipping regular maintenance to save money is being penny-wise and pound-foolish.

Adjective

1. improperly forward or bold
   • don't be fresh with me
   • impertinent of a child to lecture a grownup
   • an impudent boy given to insulting strangers
   • Don't get wise with me!
2. evidencing the possession of inside information
3. marked by the exercise of good judgment or common sense in practical matters
   • judicious use of one's money
   • a wise decision
4. having or prompted by wisdom or discernment
   • a wise leader
   • a wise and perceptive comment

Noun

1. United States religious leader (born in Bohemia) who united reform Jewish organizations in the United States (1819-1900)
2. United States Jewish leader (born in Hungary) (1874-1949)
3. a way of doing or being
   • in no wise
   • in this wise