ready

adjective

\ ˈre-dē

readier; readiest

Definition of ready

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

b : prepared for immediate use dinner is ready

2a : 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

at the ready

: ready for immediate use kept guns at the ready

ready

verb

readied; readying

Definition of ready (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

: to make ready

Other Words from ready Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about ready

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Synonyms & Antonyms for ready

Synonyms: Adjective

fit, go, prepared, set

Synonyms: Verb

equip, fit, prepare, qualify, season, train

Antonyms: Adjective

flat-footed, half-baked, half-cocked, underprepared, unprepared, unready

Choose the Right Synonym for ready

Adjective

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. quick reflexes a keen quick mind prompt is more likely to connote training and discipline that fits one for instant response. prompt emergency medical care ready suggests facility or fluency in response. backed by a pair of ready assistants apt stresses the possession of qualities (such as intelligence, a particular talent, or a strong bent) that makes quick effective response possible. an apt student her answer was apt and to the point

Examples of ready in a Sentence

Adjective

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.

Verb

They readied the room for guests. She readied herself to speak. We have to ready ourselves for a tough fight ahead.

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

There are yoga mats, rocking chairs, dream-inspiring prints on the walls, and the meditation app Calm is ready to go on all devices. — Elizabeth Gulino, House Beautiful, "Every Inch of This Room Was Designed to Give You the Best Sleep of Your Life," 6 Mar. 2019 The first completely electric motorhome is ready for consumers and is set to debut at a German trade show in January 2019. — Megan Barber, Curbed, "World’s first fully electric RV will debut in 2019," 14 Dec. 2018 The mission at this facility at Lackland Air Force Base is deceptively simple: to get trainees ready for their first special operations training class, an unforgiving session called Assessment and Selection. — Joe Pappalardo, Popular Mechanics, "What Happened When I Trained With Air Force Human Performance Specialists," 12 Feb. 2019 Get your eyelashes ready: Kylie Jenner is set to launch a product called Kylash under her Kylie Cosmetics makeup line. — Jenna Rosenstein, Harper's BAZAAR, "It Looks Like Kylie Jenner is About to Drop a Kylie Cosmetics Mascara Called Kylash," 23 Jan. 2019 Before getting started, Expósito stresses the importance of doing a dynamic warm-up to get your body ready for the work ahead. — Amy Marturana, SELF, "An Easy-to-Follow Upper-Body Strength Routine for Beginner Weight Lifters," 2 Jan. 2019 But luckily, the intersection of extreme heat and extreme glamour is exactly where this vacation-ready makeup comes in. — Leah Prinzivalli, Allure, "The Best Waterproof Makeup for Your Eyes, Face, and Lips," 23 Oct. 2018 Location: La Jolla, California Price: $30,000,000 There are certain houses that look ready-made for a movie scene, Hollywood-glam exuding from every picturesque view or over-the-top fountain. — Megan Barber, Curbed, "Cliffside California mansion fit for a Bond villain asks $30M," 5 Oct. 2018 More than a thousand flights are being grounded as a blast of arctic air barrels over the Midwest, bringing with it temperatures too low for airfield workers to load bags or get planes ready for takeoff. — Andrew Tangel, WSJ, "Airlines Cancel Flights as Arctic Chill Bears Down on Midwest," 29 Jan. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

As new lava pushes toward the geothermal plant, state officials are readying evacuation plans. — Mark Strassmann, CBS News, "Crews struggle to protect Hawaii power plant from red-hot lava flow," 22 May 2018 Leicester are unlikely to let Vardy leave without a fight, and are currently thought to be readying as new two-year contract for the former Fleetwood Town man. — SI.com, "Atlético Madrid Ponder Bold Move for Leicester City Talisman as Club Prepare for Griezmann Exit," 20 May 2018 One of the most vivid scenes in this documentary packed with nothing but is of two large men wrestling such a crocodile into submission, tying it up, and readying it for the journey ahead. — Dorothy Rabinowitz, WSJ, "‘Outback: The Kimberley Comes Alive’ Review: Awesome Australia," 26 July 2018 And Frank was in a tent in the mud of San Diego, readying himself for combat. — Jessica Stahl, Washington Post, "‘Letters From War’: 1942 – The start (full transcript)," 3 Jan. 2018 According to Vanity Fair, the Duchess of Sussex is readying herself for her baby's arrival in multiple holistic ways, including using acupuncture, practicing natural birth techniques, and enlisting the services of a doula. — Chloe Foussianes, Town & Country, "Meghan Markle, Like Her Sister-in-Law Kate Middleton, Is Reportedly Planning for a Natural Birth," 6 Feb. 2019 There are at least seven full-time Browns writers scattered in the mix, including long-time Cleveland Plain-Dealer beat reporter Mary Kay Cabot, who unlocks her digital recorder and readies a cell phone in both hands to shoot video. — Conor Orr, SI.com, "“It Is Our Super Bowl”: How Cleveland Experiences the NFL Scouting Combine," 8 Mar. 2018 Right away, Tia's readying herself to go on the date...but then Colton asks Kendall first to go for a chat. — Anna Moeslein, Glamour, "Bachelor in Paradise Season 5, Episode 1 Recap: All About Colton," 7 Aug. 2018 The hot-pink show just wrapped its five-week pre-Broadway run at the National Theatre in Washington, D.C., and is readying for its March 12 debut at New York City’s August Wilson Theatre. — Benjamin Lindsay, Vanities, "Tina Fey Wants to Make a Surprise Cameo in the Mean Girls Musical," 6 Dec. 2017

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.