unready

adjective

un·​ready ˌən-ˈre-dē How to pronounce unready (audio)
unreadier; unreadiest
: not prepared or ready
unready to go to college
My catcher … seemed unready; through the openings in his mask I could just discern a look that mingled confusion and distress.Ejner Jensen
I'm like a jailbird after a long stretch: unready for life, resentful of the separation, nostalgic for the chums I'd been locked up with …John le Carré
unreadiness noun

Examples of unready in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Ukraine is in some ways providing both the inspiration and the warning that the United Kingdom did during World War II, allowing the United States to see where its military is unready for what it may be called to do. Kori Schake, Foreign Affairs, 4 Dec. 2023 Not only was her opponent unready for Gauff’s serves multiple times, but Siegemund repeatedly exceeded the 25 seconds players have to serve the ball and start play. Bypaige Hagy, Fortune, 1 Sep. 2023 After some past Cliburn winners proved unready for immediate exposure with top orchestras in major concert halls, the sponsoring foundation more recently has tended to favor early bookings with smaller-city orchestras and recital series. Scott Cantrell, Dallas News, 30 Aug. 2023 If a tropical town like Lahaina can burn, which other cities are also at risk—and totally unready for it? Matt Simon, WIRED, 15 Aug. 2023 After 9/11, many within the U.S. national security establishment worried that, following decades of preparation for confronting conventional enemies, Washington was unready for the challenge posed by an unconventional adversary such as al Qaeda. Audrey Kurth Cronin, Foreign Affairs, 18 Feb. 2015 And yet the show is purpose-built not to elevate or to celebrate Winbush but to somewhat ruthlessly pull apart the ways in which she might be made to look unready for the job and unsteady on her feet. Daniel D'addario, Variety, 10 July 2023 Still, the effort shows the administration is unready to give up on the policy. Danielle Douglas-Gabriel, Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff and Corinne Dorsey, The Washington Post, Anchorage Daily News, 1 July 2023 As Beth, Sullivan delivers depth as the problem sister unready for the responsibilities thrust upon her and blanching at the destruction unfolding around her. Olivia McCormack, Washington Post, 19 Apr. 2023

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

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unready was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near unready

Cite this Entry

“Unready.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unready. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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