readiness

noun

read·​i·​ness ˈre-dē-nəs 

: the quality or state of being ready: such as

a

: a state of preparation

As Apollo approached readiness, a new system for validating flight hardware came into use.

—William Hines

… conditions that prevented all regiments being brought to battle readiness simultaneously …

—Graham A. Cosmas

Pym presented himself at the entrance to the school drive in readiness for Mr. Cudlove's arrival.

—John Le Carré

b

: prompt willingness

Kostunica has already expressed his readiness to talk with independence-minded leaders in Montenegro …

—Joshua Hammer et al.

Civil War reportage owed its successes also to the readiness of the military to accept photography as a new visual tool …

—Naomi Rosenblum

c

: ease, facility

The introduction was followed up on his side by a happy readiness of conversation

—Jane Austen

Examples of readiness in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Organizations must overcome a false sense of readiness. —Maggie Laird, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025

The district also may join forces with Junior Achievement of South Florida for a second location of Junior Achievement World, a mock mini-city that teaches students entrepreneurship, work readiness and financial literacy. —Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel, 26 July 2025

Washington had to maintain the Continental Army in a state of readiness should peace negotiations fail, and his army was suffering. —Lee Habeeb, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 July 2025

Volz and Dillen’s personnel moves come at a precarious time for NOAA, when staff cuts and the proposal for steep budget reductions have lowered morale and led to questions about agency readiness for predicting and responding to extreme weather events. —Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 25 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for readiness

• steadiness
• unsteadiness