# sage

/ˈseɪdʒ/ (US) · /sˈeɪdʒ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sage
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. the herb

noun · CEFR B1

a plant with grey-green leaves used as a spice in cooking, especially with meat.

For teachers: the aromatic plant Salvia officinalis, or its dried leaves used as a culinary herb. Uncountable when referring to the spice.

- The chef added fresh sage to the butter sauce for the pasta.
- The stuffing was seasoned heavily with sage and onion, providing a savory contrast to the richness of the roasted poultry.

### 2. a wise person

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

a person who is very wise and respected for their experience.

For teachers: a person of profound wisdom, especially one who is venerable and possesses sound judgment.

- People traveled from far away to seek advice from the old sage.
- The village elders were regarded as sages, their counsel sought on matters ranging from land disputes to spiritual guidance.

### 3. wise

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

showing great wisdom and good judgment.

For teachers: possessing or exhibiting profound wisdom and discernment. Often used to describe advice or decisions.

- He gave me some sage advice about how to save money for the future.
- The CEO followed the sage counsel of her predecessors, avoiding a risky merger that could have destabilized the firm.

### 4. internet posting

verb · CEFR C2 · Slang

to post a reply on an internet board without moving the thread to the top.

For teachers: to enter the word 'sage' into the email field of an imageboard to prevent the thread from being 'bumped' to the top of the index.

- I decided to sage the thread because the discussion was getting repetitive.
- Users often sage a post when they wish to contribute to a discussion without artificially extending its visibility on the board's front page.

## Examples

- The old man was known as the village sage.
- In many ancient stories, the hero must travel to a distant mountain to seek advice from a wise sage.
- The philosopher was revered as a sage whose teachings on ethics and governance influenced the kingdom for generations after his death.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.