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Synonyms

at the ready

Idioms  
  1. Available for immediate use, as in Umbrellas at the ready, we were prepared to brave the storm. This idiom was originally a military term in which the ready denoted the position of a firearm prepared to be raised and aimed or fired. [First half of 1800s]


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

And if you’re ever hit with a layoff, it’s better to have a sharp profile at the ready than to attempt an emergency makeover.

From The Wall Street Journal Jun. 18, 2026

Days ahead of the Knicks’ championship-clinching Game 5 victory over the San Antonio Spurs, the alliance was already ordering the 1.25 tons of recycled shredded paper to have at the ready.

From MarketWatch Jun. 17, 2026

Abdullah took his job so seriously, Abdullahi said, that he would stand in the sun, always at the ready.

From Los Angeles Times May 22, 2026

First let's have a look at what's around this summer if you want to make a weekend of it; sleeping bag and tent at the ready.

From BBC Apr. 10, 2026

He could see her neatly made bed covered in Koosh pillows, the poster of Bar Harbor from their trip to Maine this summer, and her night table with Charlotte's Web at the ready.

From "The Lemonade War" by Jacqueline Davies

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