ready
1 of 2adjective
ˈre-dē 
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
ready
2 of 2verb
readied; readying
transitive verb
: to make ready
Synonyms
Adjective
- fit
- go
- prepared
- set
Verb
- equip
- fit
- prepare
- qualify
- season
- train
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Christa Sgobba, SELF, 9 Sep. 2022 Lying on a big bed at a five-star hotel clad in a stupendous Versace Mille Feuille dress, getting ready to trade one suitor—a narcissistic artist—for the formerly infuriatingly unattainable Mr. Big, cut down to size at last. Lynn Yaeger, Vogue, 8 Sep. 2022 Placed at the ready on an end table near a sofa, the wireless doorbell-style device might be used by the Queen to contact her team throughout the vast castle. Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 7 Sep. 2022 Dua posted a second IG post while getting ready for an event to celebrate the newest YSL Beauty perfume, Libre. Seventeen, 7 Sep. 2022 This year, Lawrence is getting ready to film Sue (working title), a biopic about the Hollywood agent Sue Mengers, directed by Paolo Sorrentino, and comedy No Hard Feelings, directed by Gene Stupnitsky. Rosa Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 6 Sep. 2022 Getting ready for [the women’s spring 2023 collection] was top of my mind. WSJ, 5 Sep. 2022 Republicans are getting ready to counter-punch, with $28 million in ads ordered by a Super PAC aligned with U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell set to launch later this week. Andrew J. Tobias, cleveland, 4 Sep. 2022 Unwilling to go quietly, Williams staved off five match points to prolong the three-hours-plus proceedings, as some spectators stood to watch, camera phones at the ready. San Francisco Chronicle, 2 Sep. 2022 Preston Cooper, WSJ, 24 Aug. 2022 But there's also excitement in the wings for the fresh start that comes with crisp autumn days—along with energy to ready your nest before cold weather sets in. Rachel Klein, Popular Mechanics, 24 Aug. 2022 Jones' typical job was to ready the banquet rooms for whatever events were planned that day. cincinnati.com, 22 Aug. 2022 Bureaucracy and the pandemic had hampered efforts, initiated last fall, to ready the Palazzo Manfrin for its new incarnation: the home of the Anish Kapoor Foundation. Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2022 Planning has begun to ready the Twin Cities for a 2024 total solar eclipse in hopes of drawing visitors who want to experience the rare phenomenon in Arkansas and Texas at once. Arkansas Online, 9 Aug. 2022 But with Gunstock’s management office vacant and the commission that runs the place deadlocked, the clock is ticking to ready the mountain for winter. Adam Drapcho, BostonGlobe.com, 27 July 2022 Assuming he's cleared to drive for Sunday's 500, the focus on Herta's No. 26 squad now shifts to trying to ready his backup car. Scott Horner, USA TODAY, 27 May 2022 Assuming he's cleared to drive for Sunday's 500, the focus on Herta's No. 26 squad now shifts to trying to ready his backup car. Scott Horner, The Indianapolis Star, 27 May 2022 See More
Adjective
So on days when her stress is at max point, Hayden keeps a dish that’s low on effort and high on reward at the ready: spaghetti pomodoro. Christa Sgobba, SELF, 9 Sep. 2022 Lying on a big bed at a five-star hotel clad in a stupendous Versace Mille Feuille dress, getting ready to trade one suitor—a narcissistic artist—for the formerly infuriatingly unattainable Mr. Big, cut down to size at last. Lynn Yaeger, Vogue, 8 Sep. 2022 Placed at the ready on an end table near a sofa, the wireless doorbell-style device might be used by the Queen to contact her team throughout the vast castle. Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 7 Sep. 2022 Dua posted a second IG post while getting ready for an event to celebrate the newest YSL Beauty perfume, Libre. Seventeen, 7 Sep. 2022 This year, Lawrence is getting ready to film Sue (working title), a biopic about the Hollywood agent Sue Mengers, directed by Paolo Sorrentino, and comedy No Hard Feelings, directed by Gene Stupnitsky. Rosa Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 6 Sep. 2022 Getting ready for [the women’s spring 2023 collection] was top of my mind. WSJ, 5 Sep. 2022 Republicans are getting ready to counter-punch, with $28 million in ads ordered by a Super PAC aligned with U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell set to launch later this week. Andrew J. Tobias, cleveland, 4 Sep. 2022 Unwilling to go quietly, Williams staved off five match points to prolong the three-hours-plus proceedings, as some spectators stood to watch, camera phones at the ready. San Francisco Chronicle, 2 Sep. 2022 Verb
Taxpayers should ready themselves to subsidize more worthless degrees at higher prices. Preston Cooper, WSJ, 24 Aug. 2022 But there's also excitement in the wings for the fresh start that comes with crisp autumn days—along with energy to ready your nest before cold weather sets in. Rachel Klein, Popular Mechanics, 24 Aug. 2022 Jones' typical job was to ready the banquet rooms for whatever events were planned that day. cincinnati.com, 22 Aug. 2022 Bureaucracy and the pandemic had hampered efforts, initiated last fall, to ready the Palazzo Manfrin for its new incarnation: the home of the Anish Kapoor Foundation. Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2022 Planning has begun to ready the Twin Cities for a 2024 total solar eclipse in hopes of drawing visitors who want to experience the rare phenomenon in Arkansas and Texas at once. Arkansas Online, 9 Aug. 2022 But with Gunstock’s management office vacant and the commission that runs the place deadlocked, the clock is ticking to ready the mountain for winter. Adam Drapcho, BostonGlobe.com, 27 July 2022 Assuming he's cleared to drive for Sunday's 500, the focus on Herta's No. 26 squad now shifts to trying to ready his backup car. Scott Horner, USA TODAY, 27 May 2022 Assuming he's cleared to drive for Sunday's 500, the focus on Herta's No. 26 squad now shifts to trying to ready his backup car. Scott Horner, The Indianapolis Star, 27 May 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English redy; akin to Old English gerǣde ready, Goth garaiths arranged
First Known Use
Adjective
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing ready
Kids Definition
ready 1 of 2
adjective
ˈre-dē
readier; readiest
1
: prepared for use or action
Dinner is ready.
I'm ready to eat.
2
: likely to do something
I was ready to cry.
3
: willing sense 1
I'm ready to help.
4
: needing or wanting something as soon as possible
I'm ready for some sleep.
5
: showing ease and promptness
a ready smile
6
: available right away : handy
ready money
ready
2 of 2verb
readied; readying
: to prepare for use or action
ready 1 of 2
adjective
1
as in go
being in a state of fitness for some experience or action after studying for months, she felt ready for the bar exam Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- go
- prepared
- fit
- set
- primed
- ripe
- qualified
- armed
- conditioned
- braced
- trained
- steeled
- fortified
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- unprepared
- unready
- underprepared
- unqualified
- untrained
- half-baked
- half-cocked
- flat-footed
2
as in willing
having a desire or inclination (as for a specified course of action) I'm ready to help, if I can Synonyms & Similar Words
- willing
- prepared
- inclined
- glad
- disposed
- game
- excited
- minded
- eager
- amenable
- obliging
- fain
- prone
- cooperative
- responsive
- receptive
- obedient
- compliant
- swift
- accommodating
- prompt
- enthusiastic
- desirous
- favorable
- predisposed
- agreeable
- submissive
- quick
- enthused
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- unwilling
- reluctant
- disinclined
- loath
- averse
- reticent
- unamenable
- loth
- loathe
3
as in quick
having or showing the ability to respond without delay or hesitation had a ready response to every one of her objections regarding the feasibility of the plan Synonyms & Similar Words
- quick
- willing
- immediate
- swift
- prompt
- responsive
- alert
- expeditious
- eager
- keen
- rapid
- brisk
- fast
- receptive
- alacritous
- instant
- clever
- instantaneous
- summary
- smart
- speedy
- sharp
- fleet
- lightning
- apt
- rattling
- breathless
- whirlwind
- breakneck
- snappy
- ready-witted
- fleet-footed
- rapid-fire
- quick-witted
- hit-and-run
- sharp-witted
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- slow
- unresponsive
- lazy
- leisurely
- crawling
- sluggish
- lagging
- dragging
- unhurried
- creeping
- tardy
- laggard
- dillydallying
- pokey
- idle
- slothful
- dormant
- lazyish
- poking
- inactive
- dallying
- dilatory
- poky
- logy
- inert
- loggy
- slowish
- dawdling
4
as in easy
involving minimal difficulty or effort we're hoping you have a ready solution to our networking problem Synonyms & Similar Words
- easy
- smooth
- simple
- cheap
- quick
- snap
- effortless
- light
- painless
- straightforward
- fluent
- downhill
- royal
- soft
- fluid
- facile
- uncomplicated
- clear
- manifest
- hands-down
- obvious
- evident
- mindless
- transparent
- apparent
- unequivocal
- unambiguous
- patent
- unmistakable
- idiotproof
- unchallenging
- distinct
- plain
- palpable
- clear-cut
- open-and-shut
- perspicuous
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- difficult
- hard
- tough
- demanding
- rough
- severe
- formidable
- stiff
- arduous
- killer
- strenuous
- exacting
- laborious
- labored
- grueling
- murderous
- herculean
- troublesome
- painful
- toilsome
- stressful
- onerous
- involved
- exhausting
- burdensome
- gruelling
- toilful
- complex
- oppressive
- complicated
- problematic
- problematical
- intricate
- taxing
- knotty
- abstruse
- recondite
ready
2 of 2verb
1
as in to prepare
to make competent (as by training, skill, or ability) for a particular office or function this advanced course should ready him for college Synonyms & Similar Words
- prepare
- equip
- qualify
- enable
- train
- adapt
- adjust
- fit
- season
- teach
- tailor
- shape
- groom
- condition
- accustom
- empower
- authorize
- school
- habituate
- educate
- entitle
- instruct
- tutor
- indoctrinate
2
as in to prep
to make ready in advance we can ready the desserts for the party a day in advance Synonyms & Similar Words
- prepare
- prep
- arrange
- furnish
- equip
- provide
- groom
- fit
- lay
- fortify
- fix
- school
- train
- supply
- prime
- gird
- mount
- brace
- steel
- educate
- instruct
- gather
- tutor
- set
- arm
- gear up
- batten
- outfit
- indoctrinate
- draft
- predispose
- incline
- forearm
- draw up
- spread
- frame
- boot (up)
- warm (up)
3
as in to fortify
to prepare (oneself) mentally or emotionally the basketball players sat quietly in the locker room, readying themselves for the final game of the season Synonyms & Similar Words
- fortify
- brace
- strengthen
- nerve
- poise
- steel
- forearm
- encourage
- harden
- arm
- psych (up)
- inspire
- toughen
- bolster
- sustain
- enforce
- rouse
- reinforce
- support
- season
- embolden
- comfort
- hearten
- rally
- inure
- boost
- stir
- buttress
- reenforce
- buoy (up)
- prop (up)
- cheer (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- shake
- discourage
- daunt
- unnerve
- soften
- dishearten
- psych (out)
- demoralize
- undermine
- weaken
- undercut
- dispirit
- sap
- tire
- enervate
- debilitate
- prostrate
- enfeeble
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of ready are apt, prompt, and quick. While all these words mean "able to respond without delay or hesitation or indicative of such ability," ready suggests facility or fluency in response.
backed by a pair of ready assistants
The meanings of apt and ready largely overlap; however, 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
While in some cases nearly identical to ready, prompt is more likely to connote training and discipline that fits one for instant response.
prompt emergency medical care
The words quick and ready can be used in similar contexts, but quick stresses instancy of response and is likely to connote native rather than acquired power.
quick reflexes
a keen quick mind