ready

1 of 2

adjective

readier; readiest
1
a
: prepared mentally or physically for some experience or action
b
: prepared for immediate use
dinner is ready
2
a
: willingly disposed : inclined
ready to agree to his proposal
b
: likely to do something indicated
a house that looks ready to collapse
3
: displayed readily and spontaneously
a ready wit
4
: immediately available
had ready cash

ready

2 of 2

verb

readied; readying

transitive verb

: to make ready
Phrases
at the ready
: ready for immediate use
kept guns at the ready
Choose the Right Synonym for ready

quick, prompt, ready, apt mean able to respond without delay or hesitation or indicative of such ability.

quick stresses instancy of response and is likely to connote native rather than acquired power.

quick reflexes
a keen quick mind

prompt is more likely to connote training and discipline that fits one for instant response.

prompt emergency medical care

ready suggests facility or fluency in response.

backed by a pair of ready assistants

apt stresses the possession of qualities (such as intelligence, a particular talent, or a strong bent) that makes quick effective response possible.

an apt student
her answer was apt and to the point

Examples of ready in a Sentence

Adjective I'll be ready in 10 minutes. “Can we leave now?” “I'm ready when you are.” Your prescription will be ready in about 20 minutes. The car won't be ready until tomorrow. We got everything ready for the party before the guests arrived. Verb They readied the room for guests. She readied herself to speak. We have to ready ourselves for a tough fight ahead.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Read on for details about this collection of new eateries ready to fuel your day. Amanda Hancock, The Courier-Journal, 19 Mar. 2024 Have a backup plan ready in case the video call cannot be salvaged—exchange phone numbers to ensure a smooth transition in the event of irreparable connectivity problems. Ebony Flake, Essence, 19 Mar. 2024 Dua Lipa is ready to bask in the spotlight once more and have fun doing it. Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 19 Mar. 2024 Which sophomores are ready to make a jump on offense? Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2024 The Sunshine State is home to dozens of tiny beach towns ready to welcome you for a weekend away. Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 18 Mar. 2024 China has positioned itself to take advantage of today’s status quo, ready to pounce if the treaty system fails. Elizabeth Buchanan, Foreign Affairs, 18 Mar. 2024 Read the full Libra Daily Horoscope Scorpio (October 23 - November 21) Daily reality is ready to pivot. USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2024 So Ireland had a very smooth transition through Brexit because the Irish companies were ready. Nicole Goodkind, CNN, 18 Mar. 2024
Verb
Volunteer Robin Gorman readies the dining room and stays out of the kitchen. Sophie Carson, Journal Sentinel, 7 Mar. 2024 But the businesses also are readying to deliver recreational pot to adults 21 and over should California voters approve November’s Proposition 64. Peter Hecht, Sacramento Bee, 21 Feb. 2024 To make sure others get to see your outfit, players will be able to see the gear of ther hunters in the Hunt-A-Thon screen before readying up to battle a monster. Gieson Cacho, The Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2024 Microsoft appears to be readying its own DLSS-like AI upscaling feature for PC games. Tom Warren, The Verge, 12 Feb. 2024 A little help from his friends: Speaking of those legal battles, a pro-Biden super PAC is readying a $40 million campaign aimed at amplifying Trump’s legal issues, NBC’s Matt Dixon scoops. Ben Kamisar, NBC News, 6 Feb. 2024 Fry was excited, readying a plan to capitalize on an unexpected viral moment. Ethan Millman, Rolling Stone, 2 Feb. 2024 The market was readying for the possibility of rate cuts early in 2024 given policymakers’ forecasts, but an acceleration of inflation in December and strong retail sales have raised concerns about how soon the central bank may start. Bloomberg, Orange County Register, 29 Jan. 2024 Much has to be done to ready a company for a sale, including ensuring the financials look good and figuring out what a possible selling price might be. Petr Marek, Forbes, 16 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ready.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English redy; akin to Old English gerǣde ready, Goth garaiths arranged

First Known Use

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ready was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near ready

Cite this Entry

“Ready.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ready. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

ready

1 of 2 adjective
readier; readiest
1
: prepared for use or action
dinner is ready
2
: likely to do something
ready to cry
3
: willing sense 1
ready to give aid
4
: showing ease and promptness
a ready answer
5
: available right away : handy
ready money
readily
ˈred-ᵊl-ē
adverb
readiness
ˈred-ē-nəs
noun

ready

2 of 2 verb
readied; readying
: to make ready : prepare

More from Merriam-Webster on ready

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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