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

The agent automatically learns your organization’s best practices, flags violations, and ensures cost optimization and production readiness directly within both 2D and 3D CAD. —Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 7 Oct. 2025

Two recent immigration cases highlight the Court’s readiness to intervene before full merits review. —Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025

By forming deeper partnerships with academic institutions, shaping co-op programs, investing in student mentorship, and supporting policies that incentivize applied learning, employers can help close the readiness gap. —Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2025

Unlike a typical strike where employees take off work, a practice strike is used to build unity and readiness for a potential strike. —Stuart Dyos, Nashville Tennessean, 5 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for readiness

• steadiness
• unsteadiness