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

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 formso·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 ready

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
Launched late last week, Ready for Romney appears to be, at best, political amateur hour.
‘Ready for Romney’ Is Amateur Hour|Tim Mak|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The question is, do we need, or are we ready for, super high-end designer drawers for dudes?
Would You Pay $100 For a 50 Cent Bulge? Men’s Undies Get Expensive|James Joiner|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Dorinda warned me not to go far from the house because supper would be ready in a few minutes.
The Rise of Roscoe Paine|Joseph C. Lincoln
It is great sport to get the crabs excited, and to see them, scuttling around, ready to attack their foes.
Mpuke, Our Little African Cousin|Mary Hazelton Wade
We were ready in excellent time; all our preparations being complete a good half-hour before the breeze came.
Under the Meteor Flag|Harry Collingwood
She was always waiting, even always expecting, ready to take her chance, with arm out-stretched to seize Occasion by the forelock.
Sophy of Kravonia|Anthony Hope
You may not believe it, but when I was ready to go moonshinin', you just stood in front of me.
Fighting Byng|A. Stone

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

Word Origin and History for ready

ready

adj.

Old English ræde, geræde "prepared, ready," of a horse, "ready for riding," from Proto-Germanic *garaidijaz "arranged" (cf. Old Frisian rede "ready," Middle Dutch gereit, Old High German reiti, Middle High German bereite, German bereit, Old Norse greiðr "ready, plain," Gothic garaiþs "ordered, arranged"), from PIE root *reidh- "to ride" (see ride (v.)). Lengthened in Middle English by change of ending. Ready-made first attested early 15c.; ready-to-wear is from 1890.

ready

early 13c., "to administer;" c.1300, "to take aim;" mid-14c., "to prepare, make ready," from ready (adj.). Related: Readied; readying.

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

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

Usage note

Examples from the Web for ready

ready

adjective readier or readiest

noun

verb

Word Origin for ready

ready

ready

ready