readiness
Americannoun
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the condition of being ready.
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ready movement; promptness; quickness.
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willingness; inclination; cheerful consent.
a readiness to help others.
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a developmental stage at which a child has the capacity to receive instruction at a given level of difficulty or to engage in a particular activity.
noun
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the state of being ready or prepared, as for use or action
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prepared and waiting
all was in readiness for the guests' arrival
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in preparation for
he tidied the house in readiness for the guests' arrival
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willingness or eagerness to do something
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ease or promptness
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of readiness
Explanation
Readiness is a quality of being able or willing to do something. An athlete's readiness for the Olympics has to do with how warmed up she is, whether she's recovered from injuries, as well as her psychological state. Your readiness for something usually has to do with how well prepared you are. Your parents might have decorated a room and bought a crib before you were born, in readiness for your arrival. And local police sometimes clear the streets and direct traffic away in readiness for a big parade. Readiness can also mean "willingness," like an eager kindergartner's readiness to learn how to read.
Vocabulary lists containing readiness
"Dragon, Dragon"
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The Suffix -ness, Part 1
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This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for June 25–July 1, 2022
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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.
Bond yields have been moving sharply higher, indicating the market is concerned about the Fed’s readiness to react to high inflation.
From MarketWatch • May 19, 2026
It has also urged nearby countries to "enhance their preparedness and readiness", including surveillance at health facilities and communities.
From BBC • May 18, 2026
“We are seeing that, hands down, especially in the last two or three years with AI,” he said of job readiness.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 18, 2026
He said Sudanese forces were "at the highest level of readiness".
From Barron's • May 5, 2026
Lest these conclusions be misinterpreted, we should end this chapter with caveats against exaggerating two points: peoples’ readiness to accept better crops and livestock, and the constraints imposed by locally available wild plants and animals.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
