ready

adjective \ ˈre-dē \

|Updated on: 5 Aug 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: ready in a Sentence

Definition of ready

readier; readiest

1 a : prepared mentally or physically for some experience or action

b : prepared for immediate use

dinner is ready

2 a : willingly disposed : inclined

ready to agree to his proposal

b : likely to do something indicated

a house that looks ready to collapse

3 : displayed readily and spontaneously

a ready wit

4 : immediately available

had ready cash

—

readiness

noun

— at the ready

: ready for immediate use

kept guns at the ready

See ready defined for English-language learners

See ready defined for kids

Examples of ready in a Sentence

I'll be ready in 10 minutes.
“Can we leave now?” “I'm ready when you are.”
Your prescription will be ready in about 20 minutes.
The car won't be ready until tomorrow.
We got everything ready for the party before the guests arrived.

Recent Examples of ready from the Web

The only rules are to be on time and be ready to play.

— paul sullivan, chicagotribune.com, "Clubhouse policeman Bud Norris creating latest controversy in St. Louis," 14 July 2018
Oakland Hills Country Club is ready to return to golf's major-championship circuit..

— george stoia, Detroit Free Press, "Oakland Hills to seek major tournaments after South Course renovations," 13 July 2018
The summer parties are in full swing this week and everyone was ready to take advantage of the warm evenings by wearing their festive best.

— aubri juhasz, The Cut, "The Best-est Party Looks of the Week," 13 July 2018
But those who advocate for continuing protections for people with pre-existing conditions aren’t quite ready to sound the alarm.

— austin horn, San Antonio Express-News, "With ACA under attack, a family racked by illness wonders what will happen to their health coverage," 13 July 2018
Chelsea have been reported to be ready to counter any offer from the French champions by handing the 2016/17 PFA, FWA and Premier League Player of the Year a handsome new contract, but Barcelona are now said to have joined the race as well.

— SI.com, "Barcelona Join Race for Chelsea Midfielder N'Golo Kante With Cash Plus Player Deal," 13 July 2018
But perhaps the biggest player in this shift is Rihanna, whose story of resurrection and power occurred a little bit before the world was ready to embrace it.

— kathryn lindsay, refinery29.com, "Why Be Engaged When You Can Be An Ex?," 13 July 2018
The airport reviewed the possibilities for technological improvements two years ago and made a decision to enhance security, according to Lennon, but is not yet ready to disclose what improvements are planned.

— kelly yamanouchi, ajc, "Fence jumpers highlight security vulnerability at Hartsfield-Jackson," 12 July 2018
By then, fuel cells like MacFarlane's could be ready to displace Haber-Bosch itself—and the half-green approach to ammonia production could become fully green.

— robert f. service, Science | AAAS, "Ammonia—a renewable fuel made from sun, air, and water—could power the globe without carbon," 12 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ready.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of ready

Middle English redy; akin to Old English gerǣde ready, Goth garaiths arranged

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

ready Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of ready

quick, prompt, ready, apt mean able to respond without delay or hesitation or indicative of such ability. quick stresses instancy of response and is likely to connote native rather than acquired power.