ready

comparative readier · superlative readiest

1. Prepared for immediate action or use.

   The porridge is ready to serve.

   5 more examples

   I made ready to set out on my journey.

   The troops are ready for battle.

   If need be, I am ready to forego / And quit:

   1671, John Milton, “Samson Agonistes, […].”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC, page 87

   she was told dinner was ready

   1711, Jonathan Swift, journal to Stella

   Miranda: I'll admit it, Shepard. I'm impressed. You got us here. Are you ready? Shepard: We're going in blind, and we don't even know if we'll survive the trip. No way in hell we're ready... but we don't have a choice.

   2010, BioWare, Mass Effect 2 (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →OCLC, PC, scene: Normandy SR-2

   1. first only used predicatively, freely used from the end of the 17th centuryFirst known use c. 1550's

      a loaf of ready-sliced bread

      5 more examples

      The cave was like a ready-made home for us.

      First their must be a clericall tonſure whereas they clyp thꝛee oꝛ fowꝛe lyttle heaires in his crowne, and he muſt[…]be hold a Priest ready made able to haue a benefice,[…]

      1565, Theodore Beza, The 7 poynt, of the clericall tonsure, in Robert Fyll, transl., A briefe and piththie summe of the Christian faith, page 149r

      But you muſt take a body ready made, Pug I can create you none[…]

      1616 October or November (first performance), Ben Jonson, The Diuell is an Asse: A Comedie […], London: […] I. B. for Robert Allot, […], published 1631, →OCLC, Act I, scene i, page 98

      […]and whoever can keep their Corps till they can ſend to London, and have a ready-made Coffin ſent down, may afterwards have them kept any reaſonable time.

      1696, A Collection for Improvement of Husbandry and Trade, volumes 9-11, page 8

      […]but, in the improvement of a place in which Nature has furnished few materials in which the groundwork of improvement is tame, and in which suitable diſtances cannot be had, the rules of ſcience and the "ready-made taste" of connoiſſeurs are of little avail to the artiſt.

      1795, publisher:w:Ralph Griffith, “Price's Eſſay on the Pictureſques”, in The Monthly Review (London), volume XVI, page 316

2. Inclined; apt to happen.
3. Liable at any moment.

   The seed is ready to sprout.

   1 more example

   My heart is ready to crack.

   c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i]

   Synonyms: fit

4. Not slow or hesitating; quick in action or perception of any kind.

   ready wit

   5 more examples

   a ready apprehension

   a ready writer or workman

   whose temper was ready, though surly

   1819 December 20 (indicated as 1820), Walter Scott, Ivanhoe; a Romance. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), Edinburgh: […] Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co. […], →OCLC

   ready in devising expedients

   1849–1861, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter XIII, in The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volume (please specify |volume=I to V), London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC

   Molly the dairymaid came a little way from the rickyard, and said she would pluck the pigeon that very night after work. She was always ready to do anything for us boys; and we could never quite make out why they scolded her so for an idle hussy indoors. It seemed so unjust. Looking back, I recollect she had very beautiful brown eyes.

   1879, R[ichard] J[efferies], “The First Gun”, in The Amateur Poacher, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], →OCLC, page 16

   Synonyms: dexterous, prompt, easy, expert

5. Offering itself at once; at hand; opportune; convenient.

   Through the wilde Deſert, not the readieſt way,

   1667, John Milton, “Book X”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, line 1097

   1 more example

   A sapling pine he wrenched from out the ground, / The readiest weapon that his fury found.

   1700, John Dryden, Theodore and Honoria

present singular third person readies · participle present readying · participle past readied · past readied

1. transitiveTo prepare; to make ready for action.

   Immigration agents in military green surrounded MacArthur Park as the convoy readied for a show of force akin to a Hollywood movie.

   2025 July 7, Melissa Gomez, Rachel Uranga and Brittny Mejia, “Heavily armed immigration agents descend on L.A.’s MacArthur Park”, in Los Angeles Times, archived from the original on 08 Jul 2025

   Synonyms: yark, prime

plural readies

1. countableslanguncountableReady money; cash.

   [H]e vvas not fluſh in Ready, either to go to Lavv or clear old Debts, neither could he find good Bail: […]

   1712, Humphry Polesworth [pseudonym; John Arbuthnot], “A Copy of Bull and Frog’s Letter to Lord Strutt”, in Law is a Bottomless-Pit. […], London: […] John Morphew, […], →OCLC, page 8

   2 more examples

   But it's no secret that W. & S. have been getting short of the ready for more than a year now; it's claimed that the fire began in three or four places at once; and Mr Barrowford was the last to leave the premises.

   1927, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], Max Carrados Mysteries

   […] he was generous when he had the cash. Many a time he kept me going in drink through the week when I was stuck for the ready […]

   2008, Agnes Owens, The Group

plural Readys

1. countableuncountableA surname.
2. countableuncountableAn unincorporated community in Grayson County, Kentucky, United States.