ready

[ red-ee ]

/ ˈrɛd i /

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See synonyms for: ready / readied / readies / readying 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!

SYNONYMS FOR ready

1 fit, set.

3 agreeable, glad, happy.

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

See synonyms for ready on Thesaurus.com

ANTONYMS FOR ready

1 unfit.

3 unwilling.

See antonyms for ready on Thesaurus.com

QUIZZES

QUIZ YOURSELF ON "WAS" VS. "WERE"!

Were you ready for a quiz on this topic? Well, here it is! See how well you can differentiate between the uses of "was" vs. "were" in this quiz.

Question 1 of 7

“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.

true

false

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Idioms for ready

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

words often confused with ready

See already.

Words nearby ready

read someone's mind, read the riot act, read-through, read up, read/write head, ready, readymade, ready-mix, ready money, ready reckoner, ready room

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for ready

That the information had always been there, but I had not been ready to receive it.
How Laurence Fishburne Gave Voice To ‘The Autobiography Of Malcolm X’|Joi-Marie McKenzie|September 17, 2020|Essence.com
“We’re united and ready to lead,” McCarthy said as Republican members stood behind him.
Trump, in town hall, says he wouldn’t have done anything differently on pandemic|Colby Itkowitz, Josh Dawsey, Felicia Sonmez, John Wagner|September 16, 2020|Washington Post
Even TVOS 14 is going official, so get ready to spend some time downloading updates tomorrow.
Apple just announced a new iPad, iPad Air, and Apple Watch Series 6|Stan Horazek|September 15, 2020|Popular Science
New queens make quacking vibrations when they are ready to hatch.
Quacks and toots help young honeybee queens avoid deadly duels|Sharon Oosthoek|September 14, 2020|Science News For Students

You’re expected to not just receive it with a smile, but be ready to give it at any point.
What if Your Company Had No Rules? (Bonus Episode)|Maria Konnikova|September 12, 2020|Freakonomics
Yves Albarello, MP of Seine-et-Marne, said the gunmen told police they were ready to “die as martyrs.”
France Kills Charlie Hebdo Murderers|Nico Hines|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The U.S. military just unveiled a new effort to get Iraqis ready to battle ISIS.
Pentagon Insider on New Plan to Fight ISIS: ‘Of Course It’s Not Enough’|Nancy A. Youssef|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
If he did, it could be a sign that our politicians are ready to resume genuine policy-making across party lines.
Christie Blames Parents for Bad Economy|Monica Potts|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
This is a provocative subject that is ready-made for the classroom.
Dr. King Goes to Hollywood: The Flawed History of ‘Selma’|Gary May|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
If there is actually a war on Christmas, famed astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson seems ready to lead the fight.
Neil deGrasse Tyson Trolls Christians on Christmas|Ben Jacobs|December 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It secures in many cases, at least, a ready compliance with a large part of the discipline enforced.
Children's Ways|James Sully
Later on, I believe, a child is wont to have his favourite colour, and to be ready to defend it against the preferences of others.
Children's Ways|James Sully
The camp grew still, except for the rough and ready cook pottering about the fire, boiling buffalo-meat and mixing biscuit-dough.
Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair
Let your orders for preparation go round tonight, so that your knaves may be ready to set out betimes to-morrow.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini
He was mounted on a spirited horse and his manner showed he was ready for any kind of an adventure, no matter where it might lead.
The Courier of the Ozarks|Byron A. Dunn

British Dictionary definitions for 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 ready

ready

In addition to the idiom beginning with ready

, also see

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

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

ready

adjective, read·i·er, read·i·est.

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

noun

interjection

SYNONYMS FOR ready

ANTONYMS FOR ready

QUIZZES

QUIZ YOURSELF ON "WAS" VS. "WERE"!

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Idioms for ready

Origin of ready

words often confused with ready

OTHER WORDS FROM ready

Words nearby ready

Example sentences from the Web for ready

British Dictionary definitions for ready

adjective readier or readiest

noun

verb

Word Origin for ready

Idioms and Phrases with ready

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

ready

adjective, read·i·er, read·i·est.

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

noun

interjection

SYNONYMS FOR ready

ANTONYMS FOR ready

QUIZZES

QUIZ YOURSELF ON "WAS" VS. "WERE"!

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Idioms for ready

Origin of ready

words often confused with ready

OTHER WORDS FROM ready

Words nearby ready

Words related to ready

Example sentences from the Web for ready

British Dictionary definitions for ready

adjective readier or readiest

noun

verb

Word Origin for ready

Idioms and Phrases with ready