ready

adjective \ ˈre-dē \

|Updated on: 23 Jun 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

Minnows or jigs are best; catfish – fair but is day to day, getting ready to start spawning; White bass/hybrids – have been very good, look for them on main lake humps.

— tyler mahoney special to the star, kansascity, "Fishing report: Prospects mixed on area lakes for week of June 20," 20 June 2018
Thank goodness Elle Macpherson is on @thismorning telling us how to get beach body ready.

— julie mazziotta, PEOPLE.com, "Viewers Slam Elle Macpherson for Recommending Meal Replacement Shakes 'for a Summer Body'," 20 June 2018
Muggs is ready to be your new best friend and would love life as an indoor-companion.

— peggy calhoun, idahostatesman, "Ada County Pet of the Week: Muggs," 20 June 2018
Reunifying the children who have been separated from their families is very important and the State of Florida stands ready to assist in this process.

— mark skoneki, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Scott to feds: End 'separating' of immigrant children," 20 June 2018
His fist pump, in particular, was ready fodder for the Internet, who happily turned the motion into a GIF that went viral.

— cady lang, Time, "Senegal Coach's Fist-Pumping Celebration Meme Is a Real World Cup Highlight," 20 June 2018
When: June 22-24 Where: Near South Side How much: $99.50-$599.50 The skinny: Get your cowboy boots ready for your favorite country artists.

— hannah steinkopf-frank, RedEye Chicago, "Chicago festivals this week: Make Music Chicago, Logan Square Arts Festival, Pride Parade," 20 June 2018
Gyllenhaal gives a startling and intricate performance as a woman who is beaten down yet wide awake, ready to pounce on any possibility of upward mobility.

— joy press, HWD, "How The Deuce Turned Its Lens on a Female Porn Auteur," 20 June 2018
There’s six feet between me and the snake, which is now coiled and ready to strike, looking like the Karate Kid prepping for a crane kick.

— kyle dickman, Outside Online, "A Rattle with Death in Yosemite," 20 June 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.

- 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

ready

verb

Definition of ready

readied; readying

transitive verb

: to make ready

See ready defined for English-language learners

Examples of ready in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of ready from the Web

Apple appears to be readying multi-user Face ID support in iOS 12.

— tom warren, The Verge, "Face ID in iOS 12 can now recognize two different people," 5 June 2018
Both Clapp and cornerback Natrell Jamerson, a fifth-round pick, aid the three-day rookie minicamp helped prepare them for OTAs, but these practices are another step to ready them for training camp this summer.

— josh katzenstein, NOLA.com, "Saints rookies adjusting to NFL practices in OTAs," 25 May 2018
Those with long memories may recall the frustration felt by the luckless crew in charge of readying him for the debates with Hillary Clinton in 2016.

— lynn yaeger, Vogue, "The Week in Washington: Subjects and Targets," 8 Apr. 2018
Separately, Trump's Treasury Department is readying rules that would restrict Chinese investments in the U.S.

— don lee, latimes.com, "Trump administration ramps up trade war with China by releasing list of new tariffs," 3 Apr. 2018
Barring multiple injuries in spring training, Flexen should start the season at Class AAA Las Vegas readying himself for his next big-league chance.

— gabe lacques, USA TODAY, "MLB's 100 Names You Need to Know for 2018," 7 Feb. 2018
Playing in the third division of the Spanish league should help the young Colombian adapt to European football, readying him for his future career at Liverpool.

— SI.com, "Liverpool Complete Signing of 18-Year-Old Anderson Arroyo From Colombian Side Fortaleza CEIF," 6 Feb. 2018
Xavier improved to 17-3 overall and 5-2 in the Big East, and looks every bit of a big time program readying itself for a deep March sojourn.

— patrick brennan, Cincinnati.com, "Xavier Takeaways: A big night on several fronts," 18 Jan. 2018
Treat leaves just as the city is readying dozens of construction projects paid in part by the gas tax or state transportation package.

— gordon r. friedman, OregonLive.com, "Portland Bureau of Transportation director to resign," 14 May 2018