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

Disaster repair funds at the ready Between 1980 and 2024, Florida averaged just over two billion-dollar weather disasters each year. — Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 6 Aug. 2026

These kids have their run of the island, and there’s ample sun and boats, booze and pot, old friends and new ones at the ready whenever Annie’s journey of self-discovery gets too heavy. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 5 Aug. 2026

As Alice walks to put the scissors into evidence, her abusive ex Marshall is standing there, bag at the ready. — Erin Qualey, Vulture, 28 July 2026

New on the high-tech medi-spa scene, this beacon of calm offers state-of-the-art diagnostics and therapies with a team of specialist doctors, therapists, sports scientists, and osteopaths at the ready. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1837, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for at the ready

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