sage

Meanings

1. 1adjectivebefore a noun

   Showing deep wisdom, calm judgment, and experience, especially when giving advice.

   Grammar: Usually comes before a noun: sage advice. It is less common after linking verbs.

   Patterns

   • sage advice
   • a sage decision
   • sage counsel

   She gave me sage advice about changing careers.

   His sage decision saved the company from a costly mistake.

2. 2nouncountableliterary

   A person respected for profound wisdom, experience, and thoughtful judgment.

   Grammar: Countable; plural is sages, often used for elders, teachers, or philosophers.

   Patterns

   • a wise sage
   • seek a sage
   • ancient sages

   The village elders were treated as sages.

   Ancient sages often taught through short stories.

3. 3nouncountable or uncountable

   A gray-green herb with a strong smell, used in cooking and traditional remedies.

   Grammar: Uncountable for the leaves as an ingredient; countable for a plant.

   Patterns

   • fresh sage
   • a sprig of sage
   • grow sage

   Add a little sage to the butter for pasta.

   We planted sage near the rosemary in the garden.

Word forms

Common combinations

sage advice

Thank you for the sage advice before my interview.

wise sage

The story describes a wise sage living outside the city.

fresh sage

Fresh sage can overpower a dish, so use it sparingly.

seek sage counsel

Before signing, they sought sage counsel from a retired judge.

Synonyms and how they differ

wise

Wise is the everyday word; sage sounds more formal and literary.

prudent

Prudent stresses careful practical judgment, not necessarily deep wisdom.

sagacious

Sagacious is very close but more formal and less common than sage.

Opposites

Word family

sagely adverb

In a wise, calm manner.

sageness noun

The quality of being wise, though this form is uncommon.

Commonly confused: sage or stage?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “sage”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words