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

TrusTrace’s report ends with a roadmap, divided into five stages, that is designed to put brands on a path toward readiness. — Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026

Do not confuse attendance with readiness; give successors real decisions before the transition. — Rob Versaw, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Those results support the approach, but 12 successful flights aren’t proof of readiness for every disaster scenario. — New Atlas, 11 Oct. 2026

This joke was memorable not for its sophistication so much as for his readiness to furnish it. — Dan Brooks, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for readiness

• steadiness
• unsteadiness