unready
Americanadjective
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not ready; not made ready.
The new stadium is as yet unready for use.
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not in a state of readiness; unprepared.
emotionally unready for success.
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lacking in presence of mind, as when a quick decision or a sharp answer is required.
Awkward situations often found him unready.
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British Dialect. not dressed.
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not prompt or quick.
adjective
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not ready or prepared
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slow or hesitant to see or act
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archaic not dressed
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of unready
First recorded in 1250–1300, unready is from the Middle English word unredy. See un- 1, ready
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Soon she was seen as gaffe-prone and unready for the political primetime.
From BBC • Jul. 31, 2024
So, the NHL lets major junior teams keep unready returnees for another season or two of gate receipts.
From Seattle Times • Sep. 12, 2023
Alas, the root of the issue was some light questioning from Judge Maryellen Noreika that revealed a plea deal unready for prime time.
From Slate • Jul. 29, 2023
They are children, as of yet unready to meet the demands of a relationship or a war, but they embrace the latter to deny the former.
From New York Times • Mar. 7, 2023
And my men, for whom I am no more than a standard or a talisman, are the knights who were leaders—the rich defending their possessions, the powerful unready to let it slip.
From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White
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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.