- the state of being ready or prepared, as for use or action
- in readiness ⇒
- prepared and waiting: all was in readiness for the guests' arrival
- in preparation: he tidied the house in readiness for the guests' arrival
- willingness or eagerness to do something
- ease or promptness
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
read•i•ness
(red′ē nis),USA pronunciation n.
- the condition of being ready.
- ready movement;
promptness;
quickness. - ready action;
ease;
facility. - willingness;
inclination;
cheerful consent:a readiness to help others. - Developmental Biology, Psychologya developmental stage at which a child has the capacity to receive instruction at a given level of difficulty or to engage in a particular activity.
- Middle English redyness(e). See ready, -ness 1350–1400
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
readiness /ˈrɛdɪnɪs/ n
read•y /ˈrɛdi/USA pronunciation
adj., -i•er, -i•est, v., read•ied, read•y•ing.
adj.
v. [~ + object]
read•i•ness, n. [uncountable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026adj.
- completely prepared or in fit condition for action or use:[be + ~]The car is ready for you to pick up from the repair shop.[~ + for]The troops were ready for battle.[~ + to + verb]The team was ready to play its best game ever.
- willing; not hesitating:[be + ~ + to + verb]He was always ready to criticize.
- prompt or quick in seeing and understanding, comprehending, speaking, action, performing, etc.:[before a noun]a ready reply; a ready wit.
- in such a condition as to be likely to do something at any moment:[be + ~ + to + verb]a tree that was ready to fall.
- immediately available for use:[before a noun]He had a reserve of ready money.
v. [~ + object]
- to make ready;
prepare:The chef was readying dinner.
- Idioms at the ready, ready for use:held their weapons at the ready.
read•i•ness, n. [uncountable]
read•y
(red′ē),USA pronunciation adj., read•i•er, read•i•est, v., read•ied, read•y•ing, n., interj.
adj.
v.t.
n.
interj.
adj.
- completely prepared or in fit condition for immediate action or use:troops ready for battle; Dinner is ready.
- duly equipped, completed, adjusted, or arranged, as for an occasion or purpose:The mechanic called to say that the car is ready.
- willing:ready to forgive.
- prompt or quick in perceiving, comprehending, speaking, writing, etc.
- proceeding from or showing such quickness:a ready reply.
- prompt or quick in action, performance, manifestation, etc.:a keen mind and ready wit.
- inclined;
disposed;
apt:too ready to criticize others. - in such a condition as to be imminent;
likely at any moment:a tree ready to fall. - immediately available for use:a ready source of cash.
- pertaining to prompt payment.
- present or convenient:to lie ready to one's hand.
- get ready! (in calling the start of a race) be prepared to start:Get ready! Get set! Go!
- make ready:
- to bring to a state of readiness or completion;
prepare. - Printingto ready a press for printing.
- to bring to a state of readiness or completion;
v.t.
- to make ready;
prepare. - British Terms ready up, and Australian Slang. to swindle.
n.
- the state or condition of being ready.
- Informal Termsready money;
cash. - at the ready, in a condition of readiness, available for immediate use:shoppers with their umbrellas at the ready; soldiers keeping their weapons at the ready.
interj.
- (used in calling the start of a race to indicate that racers should be prepared to start):Ready! Set! Go!
- Middle English redy, early Middle English rædig, equivalent. to Old English rǣde prompt + -ig -y1 1150–1200
- 1. fit, set. 3. agreeable, glad, happy. 4. alert, acute, sharp, keen, adroit, facile, clever, skillful, nimble, adaptable.
- 1. unfit. 3. unwilling.
- See already.
'readiness' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
back up
- belligerent
- chivalry
- crouch
- dexterity
- en garde
- enterprise
- fight-or-flight
- forwardness
- guard
- habilitate
- impromptu
- man
- offer
- pantheism
- poise
- preparation
- psych up
- ready
- set
- square up
- stand by
- trustful
- up
- wait
- accommodation
- alacrity
- alert
- aptitude
- arm
- armed neutrality
- commission
- concert pitch
- cruel
- DEFCON
- deploy
- facility
- general quarters
- generosity
- hesitant
- ice
- initiative
- irritable
- loin
- Minuteman
- mobilize
- nock
- order
- prepare
- preparedness