wisely

wisely — adverb

1. doing something in a sensible and careful way because you have thought carefully

1.adverbB2
Definition

doing something in a sensible and careful way because you have thought carefully about what might happen next

Example

Mayumi wisely saved part of her salary each month for emergencies.

collocation: wisely + saved / wisely + invested

The planning committee wisely decided to wait for more data before acting.

wisely + decide + to-infinitive

Common collocations
  • wisely choose
  • wisely decide
  • wisely invest
  • wisely save
  • wisely spend
  • wisely keep
  • wisely avoid
Synonyms
  • prudently

    more formal; emphasizes caution and avoiding risk

  • sensibly

    similar register to 'wisely'; focuses on practical, reasonable thinking

  • judiciously

    formal; stresses careful, fair, or balanced decision-making

  • shrewdly

    often implies clever self-interest or sharp practical insight

Antonyms
  • foolishly

    most common opposite; acting without good sense

  • unwisely

    direct negative of 'wisely'

  • recklessly

    acting without care for consequences

Grammar Patterns

wisely + verb

clause + , wisely + ,

Usage Note

Wisely usually appears directly before the main verb it modifies, but in formal or literary English it may also appear at the start of a sentence or after a form of 'to be'.

Common Mistakes

She made a wisely decision.
She made a wise decision.
'wisely' is an adverb; use the adjective 'wise' before a noun.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

All four words describe acting with good judgment, but each highlights a different angle. 'Wisely' is the broadest and most common, covering any situation where someone makes a sound choice based on experience or thought. 'Prudently' adds a layer of caution — a prudent person avoids unnecessary risk. 'Sensibly' is closer in register to 'wisely' but emphasizes practical, level-headed reasoning rather than deep insight. 'Judiciously' has a formal, almost legal tone and suggests balanced, fair-minded decision-making. 'Shrewdly' focuses on practical cleverness, sometimes with a hint of self-interest. For example: 'She wisely saved for retirement' (general good judgment); 'She prudently avoided risky stocks' (caution); 'She sensibly chose a career with stable income' (practicality); 'She shrewdly negotiated a better deal' (sharp tactics).

prudentlysensibly ↗judiciouslyshrewdly

Common collocations

Phrases

  • wisely chosen
  • wisely decided
  • act wisely
  • choose wisely
  • invest wisely
  • spend wisely

Etymology

Proto-Indo-EuropeanProto-GermanicOld EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The adverb 'wisely' comes from Old English 'wīslīċe', formed from the adjective 'wīs' (wise, having good judgment) plus the suffix '-līċe' (which became modern '-ly'), used to form adverbs from adjectives. 'Wīs' itself traces back to the Proto-Germanic root '*wīsaz' (knowing, wise), which is related to the Proto-Indo-European root '*weyd-' (to see, to know) — the same root that gave us English 'wit', 'witness', and 'wisdom'.