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.

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ANTONYMS FOR ready

1 unfit.

3 unwilling.

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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

Examples from the Web for readied

The missile that had been readied on the launch ramp in France made it through the defenses.
Life Under Air Strikes: Children Under Fire Will Never Forget — or Forgive|Clive Irving|August 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Later, she readied herself to present the medals for the Russian figure skaters.
Putin’s Sochi Popularity Boost|Anna Nemtsova|February 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As many as 20,000 security personnel had been readied to guard the courthouse where the Brotherhood officials will stand trial.
From President to Prisoner: Mohamed Morsi’s Trial Starts in Egypt|Vivian Salama|November 4, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Athens stood at 130,000, Beijing readied 100,000, and Vancouver another 100,000.
Sex and Parties in the Olympic Village: Speed Reading The Secret Olympian’s Exposé||August 3, 2012|DAILY BEAST

As Bush readied for war in Iraq, he wrote his dad a note that said, “I know what you went through.”
A Democrat's Guide to Bush's Book|Bryan Curtis|November 10, 2010|DAILY BEAST
I shouted at the top of my voice; and with, one bound I readied the main hatch, and began to clear away the ship's cutter.
New National Fourth Reader|Charles J. Barnes and J. Marshall Hawkes
Daoud readied himself, finding the water bucket again in the dark and picking it up.
The Saracen: Land of the Infidel|Robert Shea
The soil was readied and the English wheat brought over for the purpose was planted.
The First Seventeen Years: Virginia 1607-1624|Charles E. Hatch
Several seamen worked their way along it, and readied the rock in safety.
Digby Heathcote|W.H.G. Kingston
We readied a spot from which, through the trees, the sentinel could be seen.
Who Goes There?|Blackwood Ketcham Benson

British Dictionary definitions for readied

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 readied

ready

In addition to the idiom beginning with ready

, also see

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

ready

adjective, read·i·er, read·i·est.

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

noun

interjection

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Idioms

Origin of ready

SYNONYMS FOR ready

ANTONYMS FOR ready

Related forms

Usage note

Examples from the Web for readied

British Dictionary definitions for readied

ready

adjective readier or readiest

noun

verb

Word Origin for ready

Idioms and Phrases with readied

ready