wise and sensible

English translation unavailable for wise and sensible.

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wise

wise [adjective]

approving having or showing the ability to make good judgments, based on a deep understanding and experience of life

US

/waɪz/

UK

/waɪz/

Example:

I think you made a wise choice.

Oxford Essential Dictionary

wise

adjective (wiser, wisest)
knowing and understanding a lot about many things:
a wise old man
Do you think this is wise?

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

wise

I. wise¹ S3 /waɪz/ BrE AmE adjective
[Language: Old English; Origin: wis]
1. DECISION/IDEA ETC wise decisions and actions are sensible and based on good judgment SYN sensible
it is wise to do something
It’s wise to check whether the flight times have changed before you leave for the airport.
be wise to do something
I think you were wise to leave when you did.
a wise precaution
I don’t think that would be a very wise move (=not be a sensible thing to do).
2. PERSON someone who is wise makes good decisions, gives good advice etc, especially because they have a lot of experience of life:
a wise old man
At the time I thought he was wonderful, but I’m older and wiser now.
As a manager, Sanford was wise in the ways of (=knew a lot about) company politics.
3. be none the wiser/not be any the wiser
a) to not understand something even after it has been explained to you:
Charlie explained how the system works, but I’m still none the wiser.
b) used for saying that no one will find out about something bad that someone has done:
He could easily have taken the money and no one would have been any the wiser.
4. get/be wise to somebody/something informal to realize that someone is being dishonest:
Teachers quickly get wise to students who are cheating. ⇨ wise up at ↑wise²
5. wise guy especially informal American English an annoying person who thinks they know more than they really do:
OK, wise guy, shut up and listen!
6. be wise after the event to realize what you should have done in a situation after it has happened:
It’s easy to be wise after the event.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

wise

wise [wise wises wised wising wiser wisest] adjective, verb [waɪz] [waɪz]

adjective (wiser, wis·est)
1. (of people) able to make sensible decisions and give good advice because of the experience and knowledge that you have
• a wise old man

• I'm older and wiser after ten years in the business.

2. (of actions and behaviour) sensible; based on good judgement
Syn: prudent
• a wise decision
• It was very wise to leave when you did.
• The wisest course of action is just to say nothing.
• I was grateful for her wise counsel.
Word Origin:
Old English wīs, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch wijs and German weise.
Example Bank:
• It was not considered wise to move her to another hospital.
• He was known to be a wise and gentle ruler.
• He was too wise and experienced to try to escape.
• I'm older and wiser after ten years in the business.
• It was very wise of you to leave when you did.
• Locking your car doors is always a wise precaution.
Idioms: none the wiser ▪ not be any the wiser ▪ put somebody wise ▪ wise after the event ▪ wise to somebody
Derived Word: wisely

Derived: wise up

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

wise / waɪz / adjective

B2 approving having or showing the ability to make good judgments, based on a deep understanding and experience of life:

I think you made a wise choice.

"I never drink more than three glasses of wine." "How wise."

Looking at the weather, I think we made a wise decision not to go to the coast this weekend.

I think it would be wiser to wait and see how much money you've got left before you make any decisions.

I never used to save money but now I'm a little older and wiser I can see the sense in it.

Was it Thomas More who said that the wise man learns from the experience of others?

wise to sth informal understanding a dishonest situation or way of doing something:

I used to be scrupulously honest then I got wise to the system.

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

wise

[wa͟ɪz]
♦♦♦
wises, wising, wised, wiser, wisest
1) ADJ-GRADED A wise person is able to use their experience and knowledge in order to make sensible decisions and judgements.
  She has the air of a wise woman...
  You're a wise old man: tell me what to do.
  Ant:
  foolish
  Derived words:
  wisely ADV-GRADED ADV with v The three of us stood around the machine nodding wisely.
2) ADJ-GRADED: oft it v-link ADJ to-inf A wise action or decision is sensible.
  It's never wise to withhold evidence...
  She had made a very wise decision...
  It is wise to seek help and counsel as soon as possible.
  Syn:
  sensible
  Derived words:
  wisely ADV-GRADED usu ADV with v They've invested their money wisely... Our man had wisely decided to be picked up at the farm.
3) PHRASE: PHR to-inf If someone says to you that it would be wise to do something, they are advising you to do it, because it is the most sensible and reasonable action or decision in a particular situation.
  It would be wise to get his eyes checked to ensure there is no problem.
4) PHRASE: V inflects, PHR n If you get wise to something, you find out about it, especially when someone has been trying to keep it secret. [INFORMAL]
  Dealers have already got wise to the trend and increased their prices accordingly.
  Syn:
  wise up to
5) PHRASE: v-link PHR If you say that someone is none the wiser after an event or an explanation, or that nobody is any the wiser after it, you mean that they have failed to understand it, or are not fully aware of what happened.
  The brewers are still none the wiser about the shape the Government envisages for the industry...
  We could have stolen the original from the warehouse without you being any the wiser.
  Phrasal Verbs:
  - wise up

[-waɪz]
1) COMB in ADV: ADV with cl -wise is added to nouns to form adverbs indicating that something is the case when considering the particular thing mentioned.
  Career-wise, this illness couldn't have come at a worse time...
  It was a much better day weather-wise...
  Because the work was voluntary it was flexible, time-wise.
2) COMB in ADV: ADV after v -wise is added to nouns to form adverbs indicating that someone behaves in the same way as the person or thing that is mentioned.
  We were housed student-wise in dormitory rooms...
  Kenny, struggling with too many chairs, moved crabwise towards the door.
  Syn:
  -like

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

¹wise /ˈwaɪz/ adj wis·er; -est
1 : having or showing wisdom or knowledge usually from learning or experiencing many things
• a wise old woman
• a wise saying
• I'm a little wiser now than I was back then.
- 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
• Don't you get wise [=smart, fresh] with me, young man!
a word to the wise
- see ¹word
crack wise
- see ¹crack
none the wiser or not any the wiser
1 : not knowing or understanding anything more about something
• The investigation has been going on for months, and we're still none the wiser about the true cause of the accident. [=we still don't know anything more about the true cause]
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)
• Don't worry. They're wise in the ways of finances.
• She is wise in the ways of the world.
wise to informal : not fooled by (someone or something)
• I'm wise to you. = I'm wise to what you're doing. [=I know what you're doing; I know that you are trying to do something dishonest] : 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.
- wise·ly adv [more ~; most ~]
• 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.

American English

British English

wise and sensible

B2 (Upper-intermediate)

adjective

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wisely

wisely [adverb]

Showing good judgment

US

/ˈwaɪz.li/

UK

/ˈwaɪz.li/

Example:

Sian had very wisely left the party before all the trouble started.

Oxford Essential Dictionary

wisely adverb:
Many people wisely stayed at home in the bad weather.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

wisely adverb:
Invest the money wisely.
He nodded wisely.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

wisely

wise·ly [waɪzli] ; [waɪzli] adverb

• She nodded wisely.

• He wisely decided to tell the truth.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

wisely / ˈwaɪz.li / adverb

C1 showing good judgment:

Sian had very wisely left the party before all the trouble started.

Invest your money wisely through Home Counties Savings Trust.

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

wisely ADV-GRADED ADV with v The three of us stood around the machine nodding wisely.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

- wise·ly adv [more ~; most ~]
• 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.

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realistic

realistic [adjective]

accepting things as they are in fact and not making decisions based on unlikely hopes for the future

US

/ˌriː.əˈlɪs.tɪk/

UK

/ˌrɪəˈlɪs.tɪk/

Example:

Let's be realistic (about this) - I just can't afford to pay that much money.

Oxford Essential Dictionary

realistic

adjective
sensible and accepting what is possible in a particular situation:
We have to be realistic about our chances of winning.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

realistic

rea‧lis‧tic S3 /rɪəˈlɪstɪk/ BrE AmE adjective
[Word Family: noun: ↑realism, ↑realist, ↑reality, ↑unreality, ↑realization; adverb: ↑real, ↑really, ↑realistically ≠ ↑unrealistically; adjective: ↑real, ↑unreal, ↑realistic ≠ ↑unrealistic; verb: ↑realize]
1. judging and dealing with situations in a practical way according to what is actually possible rather than what you would like to happen OPP unrealistic
it is not realistic to do something
It’s just not realistic to expect a promotion so soon.
realistic about
You need to be realistic about the amount you can do in a day.
2. a realistic aim or hope is something that it is possible to achieve OPP unrealistic:
Is this a realistic target?
I don’t think they have a realistic chance of winning.
3. realistic pictures or stories show things as they are in real life:
a realistic portrayal of life in Victorian Britain

COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 2)
■ nouns
▪ a realistic chance/prospect We felt we had a realistic chance of beating England.
▪ a realistic option/alternative We do not believe there is any realistic alternative.
▪ a realistic goal/target Set realistic goals for yourself.
▪ a realistic expectation There are no realistic expectations of improvement.
▪ a realistic figure/price A more realistic figure for energy saving would be 20 percent.
▪ a realistic solution Compromise is the only realistic solution.

THESAURUS
▪ possible if something is possible, it can be done or achieved: I think it’s possible that we could win the race. | I want to get back by 5 o'clock if possible. | Please let me know your answer as soon as possible.
▪ feasible if an idea or plan is feasible, it is possible and you can find a practical way of doing it: We need to find out first if the idea is technically feasible. | It is not feasible to have security cameras in every part of the building. | Da Silva considered it feasible that uranium could be produced on an industrial scale.
▪ viable possible and likely to be successful, and therefore worth doing: Nuclear energy is the only viable alternative to coal or gas. | The product needs to be commercially viable. | We have yet to find a viable solution to the problem. | The company was no longer financially viable (=it could not make enough money to be able to continue).
▪ workable a workable plan, system, or solution is one that can be done or used: By early morning, they had arrived at a workable and safe solution. | The company would have a tough job convincing people that the deal was workable.
▪ doable informal if something is doable, you have enough money, energy, or skill to do it: This exercise programme is doable for most people. | Do you think the walk is doable? | Hosting great parties is fun, easy, and doable on any budget. | The book is full of interesting and doable recipes.
▪ achievable (also attainable formal) able to be achieved: A 15% cut in carbon emissions is achievable. | Perfect democracy is not attainable, nor is perfect freedom or perfect justice.
▪ realistic if something is realistic, it seems sensible to think that it can be done or achieved: a realistic target | Their expectations didn’t seem very realistic. | It is important to set yourself realistic goals.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

realistic

real·is·tic [ˌriːəˈlɪstɪk] [ˌrɪəˈlɪstɪk] [ˌriːəˈlɪstɪk] adjective
1. accepting in a sensible way what it is actually possible to do or achieve in a particular situation
• a realistic assessment
• We have to be realistic about our chances of winning.

• It is not realistic to expect people to spend so much money.

2. sensible and appropriate; possible to achieve
Syn: feasible, Syn: viable
• We must set realistic goals.
• a realistic target

• to pay a realistic salary

3. representing things as they are in real life
• a realistic drawing
• We try to make these training courses as realistic as possible.
• realistic graphics
Opp: unrealistic
Thesaurus:
realistic [realistic] adj.
1. (usually approving)
• We have to be realistic about our chances.
no-nonsense • • matter-of-fact • |usually approving pragmatic • • practical • • down-to-earth • • level-headed •
Opp: unrealistic
realistic/matter-of-fact/pragmatic/practical/down-to-earth about sth
a realistic/non-nonsense/matter-of-fact/pragmatic/practical/down-to-earth/level-headed approach
a realistic/pragmatic/practical solution
2.
• We must set realistic goals.
possible • • achievable • • feasible • • practical • • workable • |especially business viable •
Opp: unrealistic
be realistic/possible/feasible to do sth
a realistic/feasible/practical/workable/viable solution/policy/plan
a realistic/an achievable goal/objective/target
3.
• a realistic drawing of a horse
authentic • • lifelike •
look realistic/authentic/lifelike
Example Bank:
• He was realistic enough to know this success could not last.
• It's not realistic to expect people to pay more.
• My friends were quite realistic about my problems.
• The special effects seem very realistic.
• Try to keep your ambitions realistic.
• You could make the hands a little more realistic.
• You're not being very realistic in your expectations.
• beautifully drawn, highly realistic flowers
• being very realistic in their expectations
• his grimly realistic first novel about drug addicts
• If you want to retain good employees, you have to pay a realistic salary.
• She made a very realistic drawing of a horse.
• The realistic graphics really bring the game to life.
• This report takes a much more realistic view of the situation.

• a realistic alternative/demand/estimate/goal/hope/option/plan/solution/target

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

realistic / ˌrɪəˈlɪs.tɪk / / ˌriː.ə- / adjective

B2 accepting things as they are in fact and not making decisions based on unlikely hopes for the future:

Let's be realistic ( about this) - I just can't afford to pay that much money.

It isn't realistic to expect people to work for so little money.

→ See also Realpolitik

B2 seeming to exist or be happening in fact:

The special effects were so realistic.

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

realistic

[ri͟ːəlɪ̱stɪk]
1) ADJ-GRADED: usu v-link ADJ, oft ADJ about n, it v-link ADJ to-inf If you are realistic about a situation, you recognize and accept its true nature and try to deal with it in a practical way.
  Police have to be realistic about violent crime...
  It's only realistic to acknowledge that something, some time, will go wrong.
  ...a realistic view of what we can afford.
  Derived words:
  realistically ADV-GRADED usu ADV with v, also ADV adj As an adult, you can assess the situation realistically.
2) ADJ-GRADED: usu ADJ n Something such as a goal or target that is realistic is one which you can sensibly expect to achieve.
  Is EC membership a realistic goal for Eastern European countries?...
  A more realistic figure is eleven million...
  Establish deadlines that are more realistic.
  Syn:
  sensible
3) ADJ-GRADED You say that a painting, story, or film is realistic when the people and things in it are like people and things in real life.
  ...extraordinarily realistic paintings of Indians...
  The language is foul and the violence horribly realistic.
  Derived words:
  realistically ADV-GRADED usu ADV with v The film starts off realistically and then develops into a ridiculous fantasy.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

realistic

re·al·is·tic /ˌriːjəˈlɪstɪk/ adj [more ~; most ~]
1 : able to see things as they really are and to deal with them in a practical way
• He tried to be realistic about the situation.
• We have to be realistic and accept the fact that these problems cannot be solved easily.
- opposite unrealistic
2 : based on what is real rather than on what is wanted or hoped for : sensible and appropriate
• The plan is not very realistic.
• a realistic approach/goal
• It's not realistic to expect people to spend that much money on wedding gifts.
- opposite unrealistic
3 : showing people and things as they are in real life
• a realistic painting/novel/description
• The battle scene in the movie was very realistic. [=it seemed very much like a real battle]
- opposite unrealistic
- re·al·is·ti·cal·ly /ˌriːjəˈlɪstɪkli/ adv
• We need to deal with these problems realistically.
• We can't realistically expect the war to end soon. = Realistically, we can't expect the war to end soon.
• The movie portrayed the battle very realistically.

American English

British English

wise and sensible

B2 (Upper-intermediate)

realistic

adjective

0

wisdom

wisdom [noun]

US

/ˈwɪz.dəm/

UK

/ˈwɪz.dəm/

Example:

One certainly hopes to gain a little wisdom as one grows older.

the ability to make good decisions based on knowledge and experience

Persian equivalent:

Click here.

Example:

Ensuing events proved the wisdom of his action.

Theme, CEFR level & Tags

Theme:

wise and sensible

Level:

B2 (Upper-intermediate)

Region:

American English

British English

Oxford Essential Dictionary

wisdom

noun (no plural)
knowing and understanding a lot about many things:
Some people think that old age brings wisdom.
The adjective is wise.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

wisdom

wis‧dom /ˈwɪzdəm/ noun [uncountable]
[Language: Old English; Origin: wis; ⇨ wise1]
1. good sense and judgment, based especially on your experience of life:
   • a man of great wisdom
  question/doubt the wisdom of (doing) something
   • Local people are questioning the wisdom of spending so much money on a new road.
   • You can always expect a few words of wisdom from Dave. ⇨ pearls of wisdom at pearl(3)
2. knowledge gained over a long period of time through learning or experience:
   • the collected wisdom of many centuries
3. (the) conventional/received/traditional etc wisdom a belief or opinion that most people have:
   • The conventional wisdom is that boys mature more slowly than girls.
4. in sb’s (infinite) wisdom humorous used to say that you do not understand why someone has decided to do something:
   • The boss, in her infinite wisdom, has decided to reorganize the whole office yet again.
     • • •

THESAURUS

   ▪ knowledge the facts and information that you have learned, and the understanding you have gained: • Our knowledge of other cultures and societies has improved. | • scientific knowledge
   ▪ expertise special knowledge about how to do something, that you get through experience, training, or study: • The technical expertise was provided by a Japanese company. | • They need people with medical expertise.
   ▪ know-how practical knowledge about how to do something: • Business leaders often lack the local know-how to tackle problems in specific countries. | • financial know-how
   ▪ wisdom good sense and judgment, based on knowledge and experience: • the wisdom of the older family members | • It’s a matter of common wisdom that newspapers cannot be trusted.
   ▪ grasp how much you know about a situation or subject, and how well you understand it: • He’s been praised for his grasp of the country’s economic problems. | • She has a good grasp of the language.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

wisdom

wis·dom[wisdomwisdoms] [ˈwɪzdəm] [ˈwɪzdəm]noununcountable

1. the ability to make sensible decisions and give good advice because of the experience and knowledge that you have

• a woman of great wisdom

• words of wisdom

2. ~ of sth/of doing sth how sensible sth is

• I question the wisdom of giving a child so much money.

3. the knowledge that a society or culture has gained over a long period of time

• the collective wisdom of the Native American people

more at pearl of wisdom at pearl

Idioms: in his wisdom ▪ received wisdom

Word Origin:

Old English wīsdōm (see wise, -dom).

Example Bank:

• Consultants are too often seen as the source of all wisdom.

• Contrary to conventional wisdom, stress is not a bad thing.

• Conventional wisdom has it that higher oil prices are bad for economic growth.

• Do you have any wisdom to impart on this subject?

• He entertained the audience for two hours with his wit and wisdom.

• He is too lacking in worldly wisdom to be a politician.

• His journals are full of dubious pearls of homespun wisdom.

• In their infinite wisdom, the council closed the swimming pool for the school holidays.

• In their infinite wisdom, they closed the swimming pool at the busiest time of year.

• It's easy enough to see what we should have done, with the wisdom of hindsight.

• Many commentators doubted the political wisdom of introducing a new tax.

• Popular wisdom dictates that a father is essential in raising a son.

• She devoted her life to the pursuit of wisdom.

• The former world champion imparted a few words of wisdom to the young runners.

• The latest unemployment figures prove the wisdom of the government's policy.

• The received wisdom is that the book is always better than the film.

• Those who seek wisdom at the shrine will find it.

• students eager to catch pearls of wisdom from the professor's lips

• the accumulated wisdom of generations

• All the religions of the past contain vast amounts of wisdom that can be of service to mankind.

• Children need to feel that their parents are in control; they don't have the experience or wisdom to know best.

• Conventional wisdom has it that all sense of community has gone, but that is not the case where I live.

• Do you have any more words of wisdom for us?

• He was known to be a man of great wisdom.

• I was not quite so lacking in worldly wisdom as to accept this invitation from a complete stranger.

• I would hardly regard him as a fount/source of all wisdom.

• In their infinite wisdom they have decided to close the main road during the holiday season.

• Native American wisdom was passed on from generation to generation.

• Several people questioned the wisdom of building in that particular spot.

• The monks dedicate their lives to prayer and the pursuit of wisdom.

• They would go to the holy shrines to seek wisdom.

• They would treat these pearls of wisdom with some scepticism.

• We need to combine ancient wisdom and modern knowledge.

• You cannot just ignore the accumulated wisdom of a whole culture.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

wisdom / ˈwɪz.dəm / noun [ U ]

B2 the ability to use your knowledge and experience to make good decisions and judgments:

One certainly hopes to gain a little wisdom as one grows older.

He's got a weekly radio programme in which he dispenses wisdom (= gives his opinions) on a variety of subjects.

I tend to doubt the wisdom of separating a child from its family whatever the circumstances.

Did we ever stop to question the wisdom of going to war?

Before I went off to university my father gave me a few words of wisdom.

Conventional/Received/Popular wisdom has it (= most people think) that women are more emotional than men, but in my experience it often isn't the case.

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

wisdom

[wɪ̱zdəm]
wisdoms
1) N-UNCOUNT Wisdom is the ability to use your experience and knowledge in order to make sensible decisions or judgements.
  ...the patience and wisdom that comes from old age.
  ...a great man, who spoke words of great wisdom.
2) N-VAR Wisdom is the store of knowledge that a society or culture has collected over a long period of time.
  ...a folksy piece of wisdom.
  ...this church's original Semitic wisdom, religion and faith.
  ...a simpler and more humane approach, based on ancient wisdoms and `natural' mechanisms.
3) N-SING: the N of n/-ing If you talk about the wisdom of a particular decision or action, you are talking about how sensible it is.
  Many Lithuanians have expressed doubts about the wisdom of the decision.
4) N-VAR: supp N You can use wisdom to refer to ideas that are accepted by a large number of people.
  Health education wisdom in the UK differs from that of the United States...
  Unchallenged wisdoms flow swiftly among the middle classes.
  ●
  PHRASE: N inflects The conventional wisdom about something is the generally accepted view of it.
  ...the conventional wisdom that soccer is a minor sport in America.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

wisdom

wis·dom /ˈwɪzdəm/ noun [noncount]
1 a : knowledge that is gained by having many experiences in life
• She has gained a lot of wisdom over the years.
b : the natural ability to understand things that most other people cannot understand
• a young person of great wisdom
c : knowledge of what is proper or reasonable
• He had the wisdom to stop before he said too much. : good sense or judgment
• I fail to see the wisdom in doing that.
2 : advice or information given to a person
• folk/divine wisdom
• He shared a valuable bit of wisdom with his daughter.
• These stories offer plenty of wisdom to readers.
- see also conventional wisdom
in someone's (infinite) wisdom
- used in an ironic way to say that someone has made a foolish choice or decision
• He decided, in his infinite wisdom, that it would be better to sell the house than to keep it.
pearls of wisdom
- see pearl

American English

British English

B2 (Upper-intermediate)

wisdom

noun

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wise and sensible