readiness

[ red-ee-nis ]

noun

1. the condition of being ready.
2. ready movement; promptness; quickness.
3. ready action; ease; facility.
4. willingness; inclination; cheerful consent:

   a readiness to help others.

5. 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.

ˈreadiness

/ ˈrɛdɪnɪs /

noun

1. the state of being ready or prepared, as for use or action
2. in readiness
   in readiness
   1. prepared and waiting

      all was in readiness for the guests' arrival

   2. in preparation for

      he tidied the house in readiness for the guests' arrival

3. willingness or eagerness to do something
4. ease or promptness

Other Words From

• over·readi·ness noun
• pre·readi·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of readiness¹

1350–1400; Middle English redyness ( e ). See ready, -ness

Example Sentences

Ninety percent of Fairfax staff members have either requested or scheduled vaccination appointments, he said, and many have indicated their readiness to return to teaching in-person in the meantime.

From Washington Post

To test the jam’s readiness, spoon a bit of jam onto the chilled plate, and run your finger through it.

From Washington Post

The government’s vaccine program, Operation Warp Speed, has projected optimism about its readiness to distribute the vaccine.

From ProPublica

The idea went nowhere amid questions about the screenings’ effectiveness and the agency’s readiness to take on a significant public health responsibility.

From Washington Post

This federal-level hub could monitor viral trends and track the readiness of supply chains for therapies and protective equipment.

From Popular-Science

There is a rough floor of about six aircraft that a unit is supposed to have even at low readiness levels.

From The Daily Beast

The lesson we learned is to increase our readiness and responsiveness.

From The Daily Beast

The one thing everyone seems to agree on is readiness of the Internet.

From The Daily Beast

In this “new” Arab world, there is growing curiosity and readiness to challenge the conventions of the old regimes.

From The Daily Beast

"Netanyahu signals readiness to consider 2002 Arab peace plan" read the Reuters headline.

From The Daily Beast

And he stood up in the shameful fall of the people: in the goodness and readiness of his soul he appeased God for Israel.

From Project Gutenberg

In the street the men of his escort sat their horses, having mounted at his bidding in readiness for the journey.

From Project Gutenberg

She is always in fear of an earthquake, and feels safer to have a light burning in readiness all night long.

From Project Gutenberg

The brilliant ceremony over, the Prince set out for Carlisle, where his army was ordered to be in readiness on July 8.

From Project Gutenberg

I wish you to write me if I am to give him notice also to hold himself in readiness for town.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• fitness
• good will
• keenness
• preparation
• preparedness
• willingness