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ready

[red-ee]
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adjective, read·i·er, read·i·est.
  1. completely prepared or in fit condition for immediate action or use: troops ready for battle; Dinner is ready.
  2. duly equipped, completed, adjusted, or arranged, as for an occasion or purpose: The mechanic called to say that the car is ready.
  3. willing: ready to forgive.
  4. prompt or quick in perceiving, comprehending, speaking, writing, etc.
  5. proceeding from or showing such quickness: a ready reply.
  6. prompt or quick in action, performance, manifestation, etc.: a keen mind and ready wit.
  7. inclined; disposed; apt: too ready to criticize others.
  8. in such a condition as to be imminent; likely at any moment: a tree ready to fall.
  9. immediately available for use: a ready source of cash.
  10. pertaining to prompt payment.
  11. present or convenient: to lie ready to one's hand.
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verb (used with object), read·ied, read·y·ing.
  1. to make ready; prepare.
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noun
  1. the state or condition of being ready.
  2. Informal. ready money;
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interjection
  1. (used in calling the start of a race to indicate that racers should be prepared to start): Ready! Set! Go!
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Idioms
  1. 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.
  2. get ready! (in calling the start of a race) be prepared to start: Get ready! Get set! Go!
  3. make ready,
    1. to bring to a state of readiness or completion; prepare.
    2. Printing.to ready a press for printing.
  4. ready up, British and Australian Slang. to swindle.
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Origin of ready

1150–1200; Middle English redy, early Middle English rædig, equivalent to Old English rǣde prompt + -ig -y1
Related formso·ver·read·y, adjectivepre·read·y, adjective

Synonyms

See more synonyms for ready on Thesaurus.com
1. fit, set. 3. agreeable, glad, happy. 4. alert, acute, sharp, keen, adroit, facile, clever, skillful, nimble, adaptable.

Antonyms

1. unfit. 3. unwilling.

Usage note

See already.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for ready

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • He took me right into his office, and I told him what you said, and he'll be ready for you at two o'clock.

    The Spenders

    Harry Leon Wilson

  • At length the servant returned, saying his master was now ready to see them.

    Philothea

    Lydia Maria Child

  • But in good time the Lybian pipe warns us that the feast is ready.

    Philothea

    Lydia Maria Child

  • Besides, he had four quarts left, for which he expected to find a ready sale.

    Brave and Bold

    Horatio Alger

  • Miss Briggs, the maid, sir—but she's just ready to go out, sir.

    The Spenders

    Harry Leon Wilson

British Dictionary definitions for ready

ready

adjective readier or readiest
  1. in a state of completion or preparedness, as for use or action
  2. willing or eagerready helpers
  3. prompt or rapida ready response
  4. (prenominal) quick in perceiving; intelligenta ready mind
  5. (postpositive foll by to) on the point (of) or liable (to)ready to collapse
  6. (postpositive) conveniently near (esp in the phrase ready to hand)
  7. make ready or get ready to prepare oneself or something for use or action
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noun
  1. the ready informal short for ready money
  2. at the ready
    1. poised for use or actionwith pen at the ready
    2. (of a rifle) in the position normally adopted immediately prior to aiming and firing
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verb
  1. (tr) to put in a state of readiness; prepare
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Word Origin

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

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.

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v.

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

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Idioms and Phrases with ready

ready

In addition to the idiom beginning with ready

, also see

.

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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.