at the ready

phrase

: ready for immediate use

kept guns at the ready

Examples of at the ready in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Having a bank of clinical research at the ready means the list of treatments can be shortened, saving time and allowing future research to focus on what is most likely to be safe and effective. — Mike McRae 26, New Atlas, 26 Aug. 2026

Federal agents were waiting on the tarmac to greet them, handcuffs at the ready. — Senior Editor, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Most projects do not have funding at the ready by default, however. — Charlotte Observer, 21 Aug. 2026

This kept all English ships at their home ports, at the ready for defense. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1837, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for at the ready

• already
• unsteady
• heady
• reddi
• steady
• teddy
• thready