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ready Definition

ready (red′ē)

adjective read′i·er, read′i·est

  1. prepared or equipped to act or be used immediately ready to go, ready for occupancy
  2. unhesitant; willing a ready worker
    1. likely or liable immediately ready to cry
    2. apt; inclined always ready to blame others
  4. clever and skillful mentally or physically; dexterous a ready wit
  5. done or made without delay; prompt a ready reply
  6. convenient or handy to use; available immediately ready cash
  7. Obsolete at hand; present: a response to a roll call

Etymology: ME redie < OE ræde, ready, prepared (for riding), akin to ridan, to ride, Ger bereit, ready, ON greithr, prepared, Goth garaiths, arranged: for IE base see ride

transitive verb read′·ied, read′y·ing

to get or make ready; prepare: often used reflexively

noun

Brit., Informal ready money; cash at hand: usually with the

ready Idioms

at the ready

in a position or state of being prepared for immediate use to hold a gun at the ready

make ready

  1. to prepare; get in order
  2. to dress
ready Synonyms

ready

modif.

  1. Prompt

    quick, spontaneous, alert, attentive, wide-awake, swift, fleet, fast, sharp, immediate, instant, animated; see also active 2, observant 2, punctual, quick 4.

    Antonyms slow*, dull*, dilatory. *

  2. Prepared

    fit, apt, set, all set, equipped, primed, skillful, ripe, handy, available, in readiness, waiting, on call, in line for, in position, on the brink of, equipped to do the job, open to, inclined, disposed, fixed for, on the mark, in harness, in the saddle, equal to, at one's beck and call, expectant, available, at hand, on hand, anticipating, in order, all systems go*, all squared away*, on tap*, on deck*; see also able 1, intelligent 1.

    Antonyms unprepared*, unready*, unavailable.

  3. Enthusiastic

    eager, willing, unhesitant, game*; see enthusiastic 1, 2, willing 1, 2. See syn. study at quick.

at the ready

in position, poised, available, at hand; see ready 2.

make ready

prepare, get in order, arrange, equip; see prepare 1.

ready Synonyms

ready

v.

prepare, make ready, get ready, gear up*; see prepare 1.

ready Usage Examples

Object

  • cox: Another possibility is readying cox to today but for.

Preposition: for

  • dispatch: We do not debit your card until your order is ready for dispatch.
  • dispatch: All items listed on the site are in stock and ready for dispatch from within the UK.
  • occupation: Tree house building is making good progress with two more ready for occupation.
  • harvesting: In approximately 75 years, these trees will be ready for harvesting.
  • shipment: Your account will not be charged until all repairs are complete and the unit is ready for return shipment.

Infinitive complement

  • go: The top plate ready to go onto the top of the tank.
  • start: Kyle having made ready to start work, signaled to his fellow worker to switch on the electric power.
  • respond: True 24-hour response coupled with experienced personnel and the most modern and reliable fleet makes BHL ready to respond to any requirement.
  • move: The house is offered as ready to move into and could be your holiday home or rental for the 2006 holiday season.
  • begin: The Commission is now ready to begin the Study in earnest.
  • eat: Once cold, cover and store in the fridge until ready to eat.

Modifies a noun

  • reckoner: Potential users can check the impact of the scheme by logging on to the ready reckoner on our website.
  • meal: The Real Meat Company stipulates breeds, hanging times, cooling regimes and ingredients for sausages and ready meals.
  • wit: She had a cool, logical mind, and a quick, ready wit.
  • availability: Wars, fuelled by the ready availability of arms, can create massive population displacement.
  • canola: Representatives of Monsanto Canada received reports from nearby farmers in 1998 that they believed Schmeiser was using Roundup Ready canola without an agreement.

Used with adjective complement

  • get: Now get ready to record them on to a cassette.
  • stand: Candles from 14mm up to 60mm stood ready to be attached to fanned racks.
  • feel: The university said they would let me back whenever I felt ready.
ready Quotes

I would suggest that the only books that influence us are those for which we are ready, and which have gone a little farther down our particular path than we have yet got ourselves.

—Forster, E(dward) M(organ)

They were always†getting more credit than they deserved, more sorrow than they could bear, climbing into jobs before they were ready and failing just when they were succeeding.

—Reston,James B(arrett)

Late one morning, I awoke in the capital of a certain countryand found myselfönot changed overnight into a large brown beetle, nor feeling exactly on top of the worldömerely ready to go home.

—Kaiko,Takeshi

You can't expect the Rapid Reaction Force to be ready immediately.

—Anonymous

Ready writing makes not good writing, but good writing brings on ready writing.

—Jonson, Ben

Browse dictionary entries near ready

  1. ‹ readout
  2. ‹ readjustment
  3. ‹ readjust
  4. ‹ reading room
  5. ‹ reading desk
  6. ‹ reading
  7. ‹ readiness
  8. ‹ readily
  9. ‹ readership
  10. ‹ reader
  1. ready-made ›
  2. ready-mix ›
  3. ready room ›
  4. ready-to-wear ›
  5. ready-witted ›
  6. Reagan ›
  7. Reaganomics ›
  8. reagent ›
  9. reagin ›
  10. reais ›