ready
ready — adjective
1. fully prepared so that you can begin using something or start doing something wi
fully prepared so that you can begin using something or start doing something with no delay.
Dinner is ready — please come to the table.
be ready for something ready to be used
Ayesha spent the morning getting the guest room ready for her mother's visit.
get + object + ready + for
Are you ready to leave for the airport, or do you need more time?
ready + to-infinitive
The engineers said the new bridge will be ready by next spring.
Kian packed his school bag the night before to be ready for the morning.
- get ready
- ready for
- ready to
- all ready
- make ready
- unprepared
not ready because no preparation was done
- unready
less common; used mostly in formal or literary contexts
Grammar Patterns
be ready
ready for + noun phrase
ready to + infinitive
get (something) ready
Common Mistakes
2. willing and eager to do something because you have no objection or you are keen
willing and eager to do something because you have no objection or you are keen to help.
The volunteers were ready to help with the food distribution at any time.
ready + to-infinitive for willingness
Vinícius is always ready to listen when his friends need to talk.
The company said it is ready to negotiate a new contract with the workers.
corporate subject expressing willingness
Nkechi's little brother was ready to try any sport she suggested.
Noa's parents were ready to drive her to practice every evening after school.
- always ready to
- ready and willing
- ready to help
- ready to listen
- willing
focuses purely on the attitude, without any sense of preparation
- eager
stronger enthusiasm than 'ready'; implies excitement about doing something
- prepared to
slightly more formal; suggests thoughtful acceptance of a task
Grammar Patterns
ready to + infinitive (willingness)
Usage Note
Subject is typically a person or organisation that freely chooses to act. Unlike sense 1, this sense does not require prior physical preparation — the emphasis is on attitude and willingness.
Common Mistakes
3. able to produce clever answers, ideas, or expressions with speed, especially dur
able to produce clever answers, ideas, or expressions with speed, especially during conversation or under pressure.
Caleb has a ready wit that keeps everyone at the dinner table laughing.
attributive use: ready + noun
The politician gave a ready answer to every question from the reporters.
Niran's ready smile made him popular with customers at the shop.
During the debate, a journalist offered a ready response to the speaker's claims.
My aunt is always ready with a funny story whenever the conversation slows down.
ready with + noun
- ready wit
- ready smile
- ready answer
- ready response
- ready with
Grammar Patterns
ready + noun (attributive)
ready with + noun phrase
Usage Note
In this sense, 'ready' is most often used directly before a noun ('ready wit', 'ready smile', 'ready answer') rather than predicatively after 'be'. A predicative use like 'He is ready' on its own would be understood as sense 1, not sense 3.
Common Mistakes
4. very close to doing something or having something happen; on the point of a part
very close to doing something or having something happen; on the point of a particular action or state.
The old wooden bridge looked ready to collapse after the heavy rain.
inanimate subject + ready to + infinitive (imminence)
Eri felt ready to cry when she heard the disappointing news.
The dark clouds suggested the sky was ready to pour rain at any moment.
The child was so tired he seemed ready to fall asleep right at the table.
After the argument, the two colleagues appeared ready to walk out of the meeting.
- ready to burst
- ready to cry
- ready to collapse
- ready to give up
- about to
neutral indicator of near future; does not suggest any preparation
- on the verge of
more dramatic; suggests a tipping point is approaching
- likely to
focuses on probability rather than nearness in time
- unlikely to
low probability of happening
- far from
not close to a particular state or action
Grammar Patterns
ready to + infinitive (near future)
Usage Note
The subject is often an inanimate thing or a person approaching a threshold state (e.g., 'ready to burst', 'ready to explode', 'ready to leave'). Distinguish from sense 1, where preparation is the focus, and sense 2, where willingness is the focus — here the emphasis is on imminence and near-inevitability.
Common Mistakes
❌ 'The building is ready to fall down.' (intending it is about to fall) — This is actually correct in sense 4, but learners sometimes use 'ready' here when they mean 'likely' or 'about to'. The sentence is fine; just note that no planning is involved.
5. already in a state where you can take it and start using it right away, with no
already in a state where you can take it and start using it right away, with no waiting or extra work — especially for money, food, or other supplies.
Keep your passport ready so the officer can check it quickly.
have + object + ready
Christopher always keeps some cash ready for unexpected expenses.
The hospital keeps a supply of emergency blood ready at all times.
When applying for a visa, have your documents ready before the interview.
The company has a large amount of ready capital to invest in new projects.
ready + noun (financial use)
- ready cash
- ready money
- ready capital
- ready supply
- ready source
- available
broader; does not carry the same sense of immediate access
- accessible
emphasises ease of reaching rather than state of preparation
- on hand
informal phrase meaning close by and ready to use
- unavailable
not able to be obtained or used
- inaccessible
difficult or impossible to reach or get
Grammar Patterns
ready + noun (money, cash, supply)
have + something + ready
Usage Note
Common in financial contexts ('ready money', 'ready cash', 'ready capital') to mean funds that can be spent or invested without converting assets. For non-financial items, 'handy' is a more informal alternative.
Common Mistakes
ready, steady, go!
idioma phrase shouted to start a race, telling the runners that the race is about to begin and they should start at the final word.
The coach shouted 'Ready, steady, go!' and the children sprinted across the field.
At the start of the swimming race, the official called out 'Ready, steady, go!' and the swimmers dived in.
To get everything needed for a particular event or activity.
The team made ready for the big match by practicing every day.
Have you made ready for the meeting tomorrow morning?
ready to roll
idiomFully prepared to begin an activity or journey.
The bus is packed and we are ready to roll.
Is the band ready to roll for the concert tonight?
ready — noun
1. the state of being prepared and positioned so that something can be used or some
the state of being prepared and positioned so that something can be used or someone can act immediately, used mainly in the phrase 'at the ready'.
The firefighters stood by with their equipment at the ready.
fixed phrase: at the ready
The photographer kept her camera at the ready in case a bird landed nearby.
With pencils at the ready, the students waited for the exam to begin.
Romi stood at the ready with a towel as a runner neared the finish line.
The tour guide kept a bottle of water at the ready for thirsty hikers.
- at the ready
- stand at the ready
- keep at the ready
- hold at the ready
- preparedness
formal noun; refers to the general state of being ready rather than a specific position
- readiness
the more common noun form; 'in a state of readiness' is equivalent to 'at the ready'
Grammar Patterns
at the ready
Usage Note
This noun form only occurs in the fixed phrase 'at the ready'. It cannot be used on its own as a countable noun (e.g., not ❌ 'a ready'). Unlike the adjective, it does not take complements.
Common Mistakes
ready — verb
1. to make something ready for use or to prepare someone for an event or situation,
to make something ready for use or to prepare someone for an event or situation, especially through careful or thorough preparation.
The team readied the stage for the evening performance.
ready + object + for + noun
Sophia readied herself for the job interview by practising answers in front of the mirror.
reflexive: ready + oneself + for
The soldiers readied their weapons before the training exercise.
Tamás readied the guest room with fresh sheets and towels for his cousin.
The staff readied the conference hall for the important meeting with investors.
- ready for action
- ready for battle
- ready oneself
- prepare
more common in both speech and writing; less formal than 'ready' as a verb
- make ready
a slightly longer alternative that works in both formal and informal contexts
Grammar Patterns
ready + object
ready + oneself + for + noun
ready + object + for + noun
Usage Note
This verb is more formal than the everyday expressions 'get ready' or 'prepare'. It is common in written narratives, news reports, and formal announcements. The reflexive form 'ready oneself' is particularly literary.