ready Hear it!

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ready definition

ready (red′ē)

adjective readier read′i·er, readiest 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 readied read′·ied, readying 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

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms ready idiom

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

v.

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


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

ready Usage Examples

Preposition: for

  • dispatch: We do not debit your card until your order is ready for dispatch.

Infinitive complement

  • go: The top plate ready to go onto the top of the tank.

Modifies a noun

  • reckoner: Potential users can check the impact of the scheme by logging on to the ready reckoner on our website.

Used with adjective complement

  • get: Now get ready to record them on to a cassette.
ready usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

ready quotes

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

-Anonymous

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)

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

-Jonson, Ben

ready quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"ready." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/ready>

APA Style

ready. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/ready

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