Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Prepared for immediate action or use: Being in a suitable state for something to happen or be done.
   • Willing and eager: Having a positive disposition to do something without hesitation.
   • Easily available or accessible: Something that can be obtained or used without delay.
   • Quick and skillful: Showing promptness or ease in understanding, thinking, or responding.

2. Verb:

   • To prepare: To make something or someone prepared for a particular purpose, event, or use.

3. Noun:

   • The state of being prepared to act: Often used in the phrase "at the ready," indicating a state of immediate preparedness.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:

  • Dinner is ready. (The meal is prepared and can be eaten now.)
  • She is always ready to help. (She is always willing and prepared to offer assistance.)
  • He has a ready answer for every question. (He has a quick and available answer.)
  • Keep your passport ready. (Have your passport prepared and easily accessible.)

• Verb:

  • Please ready the conference room for the meeting. (Please prepare the conference room.)
  • They are readying themselves for the long journey. (They are preparing themselves.)

• Noun:

  • The soldiers held their rifles at the ready. (The soldiers held their rifles in a position for immediate use.)

Advanced Usage

• "Ready, set, go!": A standard command to start a race, indicating the sequence: get prepared, get set, then begin.
• "Ready money" or "ready cash": Money in the form of cash that is immediately available for payment.
  • He paid with ready money.
• "Too ready to...": An idiom implying an excessive or hasty tendency.
  • He is too ready to criticize others. (He criticizes others too quickly or too often.)

Variants and Related Words

• Readily (adverb): Without hesitation or difficulty; willingly and quickly.
  • She readily agreed to the proposal.
• Readiness (noun): The state of being fully prepared.
  • The team's readiness for the challenge was impressive.
• Ready-made (adjective): Made in advance for general sale, not custom-made.
  • He bought a ready-made suit.

Synonyms

• Adjective: Prepared, set, willing, eager, available, accessible, prompt, quick.
• Verb: Prepare, set, arrange, organize.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Ready up: (Informal, often in gaming) To prepare or get ready.
  • We need to ready up before the mission starts.
• Get ready: To prepare oneself.
  • We need to get ready to leave.

Related Idioms

• Rough and ready: Simple and prepared without attention to detail or comfort; basic but effective.
  • It was a rough and ready solution, but it worked.
• Ready, willing, and able: Fully prepared and eager to do something.
  • I am ready, willing, and able to start the new job.
• At the ready: In a state of complete preparation for immediate action.
  • The security team stood at the ready.

Verb

1. make ready or suitable or equip in advance for a particular purpose or for some use, event, etc
   • Get the children ready for school!
   • prepare for war
   • I was fixing to leave town after I paid the hotel bill
2. prepare for eating by applying heat
   • Cook me dinner, please
   • can you make me an omelette?
   • fix breakfast for the guests, please

Adjective

1. apprehending and responding with speed and sensitivity
   • a quick mind
   • a ready wit
2. made suitable and available for immediate use
   • dinner is ready
3. mentally disposed
   • he was ready to believe her
4. (of especially money) immediately available
   • he seems to have ample ready money
   • a ready source of cash
5. completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
   • get ready
   • she is ready to resign
   • the bridge is ready to collapse
   • I am ready to work
   • ready for action
   • ready for use
   • the soup will be ready in a minute
   • ready to learn to read

Noun

1. poised for action
   • their guns were at the ready