wiser;
wisest
wiser;
wisest
Britannica Dictionary definition of WISE
1
:
having or showing wisdom or knowledge usually from learning or experiencing many things
—
see also penny-wise, streetwise
2
:
based on good reasoning or information
:
showing good sense or judgment
-
The wisest course of action would be to leave.
-
It was wise of you to ask permission first. = You were wise to ask permission first.
-
That was a wise choice.
-
Many have benefited from her wise counsel/advice.
3
US, informal
:
saying things that are rude or insulting
a word to the wise
—
see 1word
none the wiser
or
not any the wiser
1
:
not knowing or understanding anything more about something
2
also
never the wiser
—
used to describe someone who is not at all aware of something that has happened
-
I borrowed his car and returned it, and he was none the wiser. [=he did not know that I had borrowed his car]
-
We left early, and no one was any the wiser. [=no one noticed that we had left]
wise in the ways of
:
having knowledge about or experience with (someone or something)
wise to
informal
:
not fooled by (someone or something)
:
aware of (something, especially something dishonest)
-
When she got wise to [=became aware of] his scheme, she left.
-
He told me I'd better get wise to what was happening.
-
(chiefly US) Let me put/make you wise to [=tell you about] their plans.
— wisely
adverb
[more wisely; most wisely]
-
The witness wisely refused to answer the question.
-
If you invest wisely, you can make a lot of money.
-
Try to choose your words more wisely.
2
wise
/ˈwaɪz/
verb
wises;
wised;
wising
wises;
wised;
wising
Britannica Dictionary definition of WISE
wise up
[phrasal verb]
informal
1
:
to become aware of what is really happening
—
often + to
2
:
to start to think and act in a more intelligent way