Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- adjective Prepared or available for service, action, or progress.
- adjective Mentally disposed; willing.
- adjective Likely or about to do something.
- adjective Prompt in apprehending or reacting.
- adjective Available.
- transitive verb To cause to be ready.
- idiom (at the ready) Available for immediate use.
- idiom (make ready) To make preparations.
from The Century Dictionary.
- To make ready; put into proper condition or order; dispose; arrange; prepare.
- To direct.
- Completely prepared, as for immediate action or use, or for present requirement; suitably equipped, ordered, or arranged; in proper trim or condition.
- Dressed.
- Suitably disposed in mind; mentally prepared; willing; inclined; not reluctant.
- Prepared by what has gone before; brought to a fit state or condition; not unlikely; immediately liable: with an infinitive.
- Already prepared or provided; available for present use or requirement; immediately at hand or within reach; opportune: as, a ready means of escape; a ready way.
- Prompt in action or movement; expert; dexterous; facile.
- Prompt; quick; offhand: as, a ready reply or retort; a ready admission; a ready welcome.
- Present; at hand; here: used in answering a call.
- [Ready is much used in compounds, with participles and sometimes nouns, or in combinations that are properly compounds; as, ready-made; ready-cooked, etc.]
- To dress.
- Synonyms Ready, Easy; disposed, apt, expert, handy, skilful, clever, smart; expeditious, unhesitating. So many of the meanings of ready convey the idea of a movement of mind, and especially a consent of the will, that there is a tendency to use other words where disposition is not included. Hence it is better to say this may easily be seen, than this may readily be seen. See quotation from Locke under readily. Easy of approach; easy to be done; ready to hear. All the senses of ready, active or passive, growout of that of being prepared.
- noun Ready money; cash: usually with the definite article.
- noun The condition of being ready.
- noun The position of a soldier's weapon following the command “Make ready!” or “Ready!”
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- adjective Prepared for what one is about to do or experience; equipped or supplied with what is needed for some act or event; prepared for immediate movement or action
- adjective Fitted or arranged for immediate use; causing no delay for lack of being prepared or furnished.
- adjective Prepared in mind or disposition; not reluctant; willing; free; inclined; disposed.
- adjective Not slow or hesitating; quick in action or perception of any kind; dexterous; prompt; easy; expert
- adjective Offering itself at once; at hand; opportune; convenient; near; easy.
- adjective On the point; about; on the brink; near; -- with a following infinitive.
- adjective (Mil.) A word of command, or a position, in the manual of arms, at which the piece is cocked and held in position to execute promptly the next command, which is,
aim . - adjective ready in every particular; wholly equipped or prepared.
- adjective means of immediate payment; cash.
- adjective a book of tables for facilitating computations, as of interest, prices, etc.
- adjective to make preparation; to get in readiness.
- transitive verb obsolete To dispose in order.
- adverb In a state of preparation for immediate action; so as to need no delay.
- noun Slang Ready money; cash; -- commonly with
the .
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- adjective
Prepared for immediate action or use. - adjective
Inclined ;apt to happen. - adjective
Liable at any moment. - verb To make
prepared for action.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- adjective made suitable and available for immediate use
- noun poised for action
- verb make ready or suitable or equip in advance for a particular purpose or for some use, event, etc
- adjective mentally disposed
- adjective completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
- adjective (of especially money) immediately available
- adjective apprehending and responding with speed and sensitivity
- verb prepare for eating by applying heat
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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In other words, having taken the king's ready money, he was thenceforth, during the king's pleasure, ready for the king's service.
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Those who are ready _fully to co-operate with us_ in supporting the freedom of speech and the press, the right of petition, &c, may be estimated at _double_, if not _treble_, the joint numbers of those who _already are members_, and those who are _ready to become members_.
The Anti-Slavery Examiner, Omnibus American Anti-Slavery Society
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At length, all being ready, I rap with a handsome paper _bâton_ on the leader's desk the five or six beats of the "_Make ready_."
Classic French Course in English William Cleaver Wilkinson
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All being ready, the seconds took their stations immediately behind them, each armed with a sword, and gave the words: "_ready -- bind your weapons -- loose!
Views a-foot Bayard Taylor 1851
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I start to hit the word ready on my board, but I decide to concentrate on the contest instead.
out of my mind SHARON M. DRAPER 2010
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I start to hit the word ready on my board, but I decide to concentrate on the contest instead.
out of my mind SHARON M. DRAPER 2010
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I start to hit the word ready on my board, but I decide to concentrate on the contest instead.
out of my mind SHARON M. DRAPER 2010
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I start to hit the word ready on my board, but I decide to concentrate on the contest instead.
out of my mind SHARON M. DRAPER 2010
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He said the term ready so many times and talked about that tone that it was almost like he was trying to convince himself.
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I hope you have a name ready for your yacht, Wong.
Creative Couplings John S. Drew 2005
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Whether it’s a wildfire, a hurricane, a flood, or any number of other emergencies, a fully stocked bag of emergency gear (commonly referred to as a “ready bag,” “go bag,” or “bug-out bag”) allows you and your family to quickly evacuate to a shelter or other secure location without forgetting any basic survival supplies and tools.
janevie commented on the word ready
I don't much care one way or the other about the adjective version of ready, but I do so love using the word as a verb.
February 3, 2009
yarb commented on the word ready
Yes! I'm a great fan of readying things.
February 3, 2009