ready

RED-ee/ˈɹɛd.i/

Adjectivereadier, readiest

Verbreadies, readying, readied

8 meanings of ready

Practice

1
all setadjective
Fully prepared and able to start or be used right away.
Like a car with its engine running, set to move the moment you press the pedal.
The team was ready to start the match.
Dinner is ready, so come and sit at the table.
UsageSay ready for school or ready to go. Get ready means prepare.
Similarprepared, set, primed, equipped
Oppositeunprepared
Note
2
willingadjective
Likely or willing to do something at once.
Like a friend who jumps to help before you even finish asking.
He was always ready to lend a hand.
Young children are ready to believe almost any story.
UsageSay always ready to help.
Similarinclined, quick, apt, eager, willing
Oppositereluctant, unwilling, loath
3
prepareverbtransitive
To get something prepared so it can be used or done.
Like packing your bag the night before a trip so nothing is forgotten.
The crew worked all night to ready the ship for departure.
She readied her notes before the meeting began.
UsageYou can say get it ready instead of ready it.
Similarprepare, prime, equip
Note
4
at handadjective
Close by and easy to reach or use when needed.
Like having a spare key right in your pocket the moment you need it.
Keep a ready supply of water near the stove.
A ready excuse came to her the moment she was asked.
UsageBefore a noun: a ready supply of water.
Similaravailable, handy, accessible, convenient
Oppositeunavailable, inaccessible
Note
5
about toadjective
About to happen or do something at any moment.
Like a glass balanced on the edge of a table, about to tip over.
The old bridge looked ready to collapse.
She was so tired she felt ready to drop.
UsageReady to cry means about to cry.
Similarabout, poised, set, likely
Note

Less common meanings

6
quickadjective
Quick to act or to understand, without delay or doubt.
Like a student whose hand shoots up before the teacher finishes the question.
She gave a ready answer to every question.
He has a ready wit that makes his friends laugh.
UsageBefore a noun: a ready answer is a quick one.
Similarprompt, quick
Oppositeslow
7
in advanceadverb
Beforehand, or already done in advance.
Like sitting down to study and finding your homework already done.
The salad comes ready washed in the bag.
He found the form ready filled, needing only his signature.
UsageComes before words like made or washed: the salad comes ready washed.
Similaralready
8
cashnounslangcountable or uncountable
Cash, or money you can spend right away.
Like the coins and bills in your wallet, not money locked away in a bank.
He paid for the old car in readies, a thick roll of bills.
Do you have any readies on you for the taxi?
UsageOften plural: pay in readies, the readies.
Similarcash, money, dosh, dough
Note

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of ready apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From Old English rǣde or ġerǣde, meaning "prepared, prompt, ready." It goes back to old Germanic and Indo-European roots meaning "to put in order," and was probably also linked to a root meaning "to ride."

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 4 facts

Ready derives from Old English rǣde or ġerǣde. en.wiktionary.org
The Old English adjective meant prepared, prompt, ready. en.wiktionary.org
The word has Germanic ancestry and an Indo-European root meaning to put in order. en.wiktionary.org
The word was probably also linked to an Indo-European root meaning to ride. en.wiktionary.org