ready

[ red-ee ]

/ ˈrɛd i /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR ready ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective, read·i·er, read·i·est.

completely prepared or in fit condition for immediate action or use: troops ready for battle; Dinner is ready.

duly equipped, completed, adjusted, or arranged, as for an occasion or purpose: The mechanic called to say that the car is ready.

willing: ready to forgive.

prompt or quick in perceiving, comprehending, speaking, writing, etc.

proceeding from or showing such quickness: a ready reply.

prompt or quick in action, performance, manifestation, etc.: a keen mind and ready wit.

inclined; disposed; apt: too ready to criticize others.

in such a condition as to be imminent; likely at any moment: a tree ready to fall.

immediately available for use: a ready source of cash.

pertaining to prompt payment.

present or convenient: to lie ready to one's hand.

verb (used with object), read·ied, read·y·ing.

to make ready; prepare.

noun

the state or condition of being ready.

Informal. ready money; cash.

interjection

(used in calling the start of a race to indicate that racers should be prepared to start): Ready! Set! Go!

Nearby words

readjustment, readmission, readmit, readout, readthrough, ready, ready money, ready reckoner, ready room, ready, willing, and able, ready-made

Idioms

at the ready, in a condition of readiness, available for immediate use: shoppers with their umbrellas at the ready; soldiers keeping their weapons at the ready.

get ready! (in calling the start of a race) be prepared to start: Get ready! Get set! Go!

make ready,

to bring to a state of readiness or completion; prepare.
Printing. to ready a press for printing.

ready up, British and Australian Slang. to swindle.

Origin of ready

1150–1200; Middle English redy, early Middle English rædig, equivalent to Old English rǣde prompt + -ig -y¹

SYNONYMS FOR ready

1 fit, set.

3 agreeable, glad, happy.

4 alert, acute, sharp, keen, adroit, facile, clever, skillful, nimble, adaptable.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR ready ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR ready

1 unfit.

3 unwilling.

SEE MORE ANTONYMS FOR ready ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

o·ver·read·y, adjectivepre·read·y, adjective

Usage note

See already.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for at the ready

ready

/ (ˈrɛdɪ) /

adjective readier or readiest

in a state of completion or preparedness, as for use or action

willing or eagerready helpers

prompt or rapida ready response

(prenominal) quick in perceiving; intelligenta ready mind

(postpositive foll by to) on the point (of) or liable (to)ready to collapse

(postpositive) conveniently near (esp in the phrase ready to hand)

make ready or get ready to prepare oneself or something for use or action

noun

the ready informal short for ready money

at the ready

poised for use or actionwith pen at the ready
(of a rifle) in the position normally adopted immediately prior to aiming and firing

verb

(tr) to put in a state of readiness; prepare

Word Origin for ready

Old English (ge) rǣde; related to Old Frisian rēde, Old High German reiti, Old Norse reithr ready

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with at the ready (1 of 2)

at the ready

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]

Idioms and Phrases with at the ready (2 of 2)

ready

In addition to the idiom beginning with ready

, also see

at the ready
get ready
good and (ready)
rough and ready