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View synonyms for ready

ready

[ red-ee ]

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.

    Synonyms: set, fit

    Antonyms: unfit

  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.

    Synonyms: happy, glad, agreeable

    Antonyms: unwilling

  4. prompt or quick in perceiving, comprehending, speaking, writing, etc.

    Synonyms: adaptable, nimble, skillful, clever, facile, adroit, keen, sharp, acute, alert

  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.



verb (used with object)

, read·ied, read·y·ing.
  1. to make ready; prepare.

noun

  1. the state or condition of being ready.
  2. Informal. ready money; cash.

interjection

  1. (used in calling the start of a race to indicate that racers should be prepared to start):

    Ready! Set! Go!

ready

/ ˈrɛdɪ /

adjective

  1. in a state of completion or preparedness, as for use or action
  2. willing or eager

    ready helpers

  3. prompt or rapid

    a ready response

  4. prenominal quick in perceiving; intelligent

    a ready mind

  5. postpositivefoll byto 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
“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


noun

  1. the ready informal.
    short for ready money
  2. at the ready
    1. poised for use or action

      with pen at the ready

    2. (of a rifle) in the position normally adopted immediately prior to aiming and firing
“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

verb

  1. tr to put in a state of readiness; prepare
“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
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Confusables Note

See already.
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Other Words From

  • over·ready adjective
  • pre·ready adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of ready1

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English redy, early Middle English rædig, equivalent to Old English rǣde “prompt” + -ig -y 1
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Word History and Origins

Origin of ready1

Old English ( ge ) rǣde ; related to Old Frisian rēde , Old High German reiti , Old Norse reithr ready
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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. get ready! (in calling the start of a race) be prepared to start:

    Get ready! Get set! Go!

  2. 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.

  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.

More idioms and phrases containing ready

In addition to the idiom beginning with ready , also see at the ready ; get ready ; good and (ready) ; rough and ready .
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Example Sentences

That the information had always been there, but I had not been ready to receive it.

“We’re united and ready to lead,” McCarthy said as Republican members stood behind him.

Even TVOS 14 is going official, so get ready to spend some time downloading updates tomorrow.

New queens make quacking vibrations when they are ready to hatch.

You’re expected to not just receive it with a smile, but be ready to give it at any point.

Yves Albarello, MP of Seine-et-Marne, said the gunmen told police they were ready to “die as martyrs.”

The U.S. military just unveiled a new effort to get Iraqis ready to battle ISIS.

If he did, it could be a sign that our politicians are ready to resume genuine policy-making across party lines.

This is a provocative subject that is ready-made for the classroom.

If there is actually a war on Christmas, famed astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson seems ready to lead the fight.

It secures in many cases, at least, a ready compliance with a large part of the discipline enforced.

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.

The camp grew still, except for the rough and ready cook pottering about the fire, boiling buffalo-meat and mixing biscuit-dough.

Let your orders for preparation go round tonight, so that your knaves may be ready to set out betimes to-morrow.

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.

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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.

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read/write headreadymade