ready

adjective \ ˈre-dē \

Updated on: 16 Apr 2018

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

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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

It's expected to be ready for leasing in summer 2019.

— lee roop, AL.com, "Work begins on 274-unit apartment complex at Town Madison," 12 Apr. 2018
The characters are compelling: Is the president a maniacal protectionist, ready to plunge the world into the abyss of a trade war – or a shrewd negotiator who uses unpredictability to keep his opponents off-balance?

— michael holtz, The Christian Science Monitor, "US versus China: How a tussle for advantage fuels risk of a trade war," 12 Apr. 2018
This is @hqtrivia’s biggest prize ever so download the HQ Trivia app now, keep your phone close and be ready for the push alert this WEDNESDAY.

— michelle r. martinelli, For The Win, "The Rock is hosting HQ Trivia, and his friends won't stop texting him about it," 11 Apr. 2018
Still, Dragic, who has been battling pain in his right knee for the last month of the season, expects to be ready for the start of the playoffs this weekend.

— manny navarro, miamiherald, "Best moment of the regular season for the Heat? There’s a bit to choose from | Miami Herald," 11 Apr. 2018
Hasan was 16 the day of the attack, and getting ready to sit for lunch on what was a bright and sunny day.

— hollie mckay, Fox News, "Syrian chemical attacks spark horrific memories for Iraqi Kurds, gassed by Saddam," 10 Apr. 2018
In the rush to get commemorative china ready for the royal wedding, sometimes the details fall through the cracks.

— caroline hallemann, Town & Country, "There's Now a Royal Wedding Plate Commemorating Meghan Markle's Wedding to ... Ed Sheeran," 9 Apr. 2018
And although some will require surgery, each is expected to be ready for training camp.

— richard morin, azcentral, "Arizona Coyotes display cautious optimism toward next season," 9 Apr. 2018
Here are three takeaways from the game: Bogdanovic is ready for a break The Kings needed offense with several players either injured or being held out.

— jason jones, sacbee, "The Kings tried to play spoiler against the Spurs. A familiar face ruined that plan | The Sacramento Bee," 9 Apr. 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.