ready

[ red-ee ]

/ ˈrɛd i /

adjective, read·i·er, read·i·est.

completely prepared or in fit condition for immediate action or use: troops ready for battle; Dinner is ready.

duly equipped, completed, adjusted, or arranged, as for an occasion or purpose: The mechanic called to say that the car is ready.

willing: ready to forgive.

prompt or quick in perceiving, comprehending, speaking, writing, etc.

proceeding from or showing such quickness: a ready reply.

prompt or quick in action, performance, manifestation, etc.: a keen mind and ready wit.

inclined; disposed; apt: too ready to criticize others.

in such a condition as to be imminent; likely at any moment: a tree ready to fall.

immediately available for use: a ready source of cash.

pertaining to prompt payment.

present or convenient: to lie ready to one's hand.

verb (used with object), read·ied, read·y·ing.

to make ready; prepare.

noun

the state or condition of being ready.

Informal. ready money; cash.

interjection

(used in calling the start of a race to indicate that racers should be prepared to start): Ready! Set! Go!

Idioms for ready

at the ready, in a condition of readiness, available for immediate use: shoppers with their umbrellas at the ready; soldiers keeping their weapons at the ready.

get ready! (in calling the start of a race) be prepared to start: Get ready! Get set! Go!

make ready,

to bring to a state of readiness or completion; prepare.
Printing. to ready a press for printing.

ready up, British and Australian Slang. to swindle.

Origin of ready

1150–1200; Middle English redy, early Middle English rædig, equivalent to Old English rǣde prompt + -ig -y¹

SYNONYMS FOR ready

1 fit, set.

3 agreeable, glad, happy.

4 alert, acute, sharp, keen, adroit, facile, clever, skillful, nimble, adaptable.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR ready ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR ready

1 unfit.

3 unwilling.

SEE ANTONYMS FOR ready ON THESAURUS.COM

usage note for ready

See already.

Words nearby ready

readjustment, readmission, readmit, readout, readthrough, ready, ready money, ready reckoner, ready room, ready, willing, and able, ready-made

Example sentences from the Web for readies

But you must put all fun and games aside by Friday as Mercury, squaring Jupiter, readies to enter your sign.

What the Stars Hold for Your Week, June 26-July 2, 2011 |Starsky + Cox |June 26, 2011 |DAILY BEAST
As Obama readies his health-care speech tonight, Sarah Palin is on the offensive again, railing against "death panels."

Bring On the Death Panels! |Eric Pape |September 8, 2009 |DAILY BEAST
But meanwhile he gains no real strength, he readies no new height of contemplation.

An Estimate of the Value and Influence of Works of Fiction in Modern Times |Thomas Hill Green
He 'readies up the broads,' as he terms it, by cutting all the high cards convex, and the low ones concave.

Sharps and Flats |John Nevil Maskelyne

Can a Tartar be said to cook, when he only readies his steak by riding on it?

Sartor Resartus, and On Heroes, Hero-Worship, and the Heroic in History |Thomas Carlyle
A gale of wind, accompanied with heavy rain, often readies its climax just about the dawn.

Hodge and His Masters |Richard Jefferies
The fact that he was not so billed made him realise what a small part of any secret ever readies the general ear.

The Mayor of Warwick |Herbert M. Hopkins

British Dictionary definitions for readies (1 of 2)

readies

/ (ˈrɛdɪz) /

pl n the readies

informal a variant of ready (def. 8)

Word Origin for readies

from ready money

British Dictionary definitions for readies (2 of 2)

ready

/ (ˈrɛdɪ) /

adjective readier or readiest

in a state of completion or preparedness, as for use or action

willing or eager ready helpers

prompt or rapid a ready response

(prenominal) quick in perceiving; intelligent a ready mind

(postpositive foll by to) on the point (of) or liable (to) ready to collapse

(postpositive) conveniently near (esp in the phrase ready to hand)

make ready or get ready to prepare oneself or something for use or action

noun

the ready informal short for ready money

at the ready

poised for use or actionwith pen at the ready
(of a rifle) in the position normally adopted immediately prior to aiming and firing

verb

(tr) to put in a state of readiness; prepare

Word Origin for ready

Old English ( ge) rǣde; related to Old Frisian rēde, Old High German reiti, Old Norse reithr ready

Idioms and Phrases with readies

ready

In addition to the idiom beginning with ready

, also see

at the ready
get ready
good and (ready)
rough and ready

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

ready

adjective, read·i·er, read·i·est.

verb (used with object), read·ied, read·y·ing.

noun

interjection

Idioms for ready

Origin of ready

SYNONYMS FOR ready

ANTONYMS FOR ready

usage note for ready

OTHER WORDS FROM ready

Words nearby ready

Example sentences from the Web for readies

British Dictionary definitions for readies (1 of 2)

pl n the readies

Word Origin for readies

British Dictionary definitions for readies (2 of 2)

adjective readier or readiest

noun

verb

Word Origin for ready

Idioms and Phrases with readies

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

ready

adjective, read·i·er, read·i·est.

verb (used with object), read·ied, read·y·ing.

noun

interjection

Idioms for ready

Origin of ready

SYNONYMS FOR ready

ANTONYMS FOR ready

usage note for ready

OTHER WORDS FROM ready

Words nearby ready

Words related to readies

Example sentences from the Web for readies

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for readies (1 of 2)

pl n the readies

Word Origin for readies

British Dictionary definitions for readies (2 of 2)

adjective readier or readiest

noun

verb

Word Origin for ready

Idioms and Phrases with readies

British Dictionary definitions for readies (1 of 2)