ready
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.
to make ready; prepare.
the state or condition of being ready.
Informal. ready money; cash.
(used in calling the start of a race to indicate that racers should be prepared to start): Ready! Set! Go!
Idioms about 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
1confusables note For ready
Other words for ready
Opposites for ready
Other words from ready
- o·ver·read·y, adjective
- pre·read·y, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use ready in a sentence
A week ain't much to ready up a horse for a race, but he ain't got no fat to work off, and he knows the game.
Bulldog Carney | W. A. FraserAll our things were now ready up on the Barrier, and nothing remained but to harness the dogs and start.
The South Pole, Volumes 1 and 2 | Roald AmundsenOur horses stood ready up-saddled; I had only to give the order to mount.
Three Years' War | Christiaan Rudolf de WetThey had got a chair; the head ready up, as soon as service was over.
Clarissa, Volume 7 | Samuel RichardsonHe had been ready up to this time to joke and even to laugh.
The Three Admirals | W.H.G. Kingston
British Dictionary definitions for ready
/ (ˈrɛdɪ) /
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
the ready informal short for ready money
at the ready
poised for use or action: with pen at the ready
(of a rifle) in the position normally adopted immediately prior to aiming and firing
(tr) to put in a state of readiness; prepare
Origin of ready
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with ready
In addition to the idiom beginning with ready
, also see
- at the ready
- get ready
- good and (ready)
- rough and ready
.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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