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

From optimizing supply chains and personalizing marketing campaigns to powering advanced analytics, AI is proving its readiness for widespread implementation. —Tigran Sloyan, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2025

Leading up to this year's anniversary, the tone has shifted from remembrance to readiness. —Anthony Trotter, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2025

There is also the question of how much his doubts about Harris’s readiness to be the Democratic standard-bearer factored into his decision to run again and his reluctance to leave the race in the face of an intraparty revolt. —W. James Antle Iii, The Washington Examiner, 5 Aug. 2025

The defense ministry said the move was aimed at reducing tensions between the north and the south and would not affect military readiness, South Korean outlet JoongAng Daily reported. —Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for readiness

• steadiness
• unsteadiness