ready en · ADJ
Pronunciation
- (UK) audio
- /ˈrɛɖi/ (South-Asia)
- /ˈɹed.i/ (Australia, New-Zealand)
- /ˈɹɛd.i/ (Canada, General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
- rĕd'i (Canada, General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
- (US) audio
Etymology
From Middle English redy, redi, rædiȝ, iredi, ȝerǣdi, alteration ( + -y) of earlier irēd, irede, ȝerād (“ready, prepared”), from Old English rǣde, ġerǣde (also ġerȳde) ("prepared, prompt, ready, ready for riding (horse), mounted (on a horse), skilled, simple, easy"), from Proto-Germanic *garaidijaz, *raidijaz, from base *raidaz (“ready”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂reh₁dʰ-, *h₂reh₁- (“to count, put in order, arrange, make comfortable”) and also probably conflated with Proto-Indo-European *reydʰ- (“to ride”) in the sense of "set to ride, able or fit to go, ready". Cognate with Scots readie, reddy (“ready, prepared”), West Frisian ree (“ready”), Dutch gereed (“ready”), German bereit (“ready”), Danish rede (“ready”), Swedish redo (“ready, fit, prepared”), Norwegian reiug (“ready, prepared”), Icelandic greiður (“easy, light”), Gothic 𐌲𐌰𐍂𐌰𐌹𐌸𐍃 (garaiþs, “arranged, ordered”).
Meanings
-
Prepared for immediate action or use.
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:The porridge is ready to serve.
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:she was told dinner was ready
1711, Jonathan Swift, journal to Stella:I made ready to set out on my journey.
The troops are ready for battle.
-
Prepared for immediate action or use. ▸ first only used predicatively, freely used from the end of the 17th century
[…]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: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:The cave was like a ready-made home for us.
a loaf of ready-sliced bread
[…]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 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:
- Inclined; apt to happen.
-
Liable at any moment.
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]:The seed is ready to sprout.
-
Not slow or hesitating; quick in action or perception of any kind.
a ready writer or workman
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:"Apple of Death" is what the Jungle call thorn-apple or dhatura, the readiest poison in all India.
1895, Rudyard Kipling, “The King’s Ankus”, in The Second Jungle Book, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC, page 188: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:The [Washington] Post's proprietor through those turbulent [Watergate] days, Katharine Graham, held a double place in Washington’s hierarchy: at once regal Georgetown hostess and scrappy newshound, ready to hold the establishment to account.
2013 August 10, Lexington, “Keeping the mighty honest”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8848:a ready apprehension
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:ready wit
-
Offering itself at once; at hand; opportune; convenient.
A sapling pine he wrenched from out the ground, / The readiest weapon that his fury found.
1700, John Dryden, Theodore and Honoria: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:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| readier | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| readiest | Degree=Sup | lexicographic |
Antonyms
Deriveds
rough and ready · fire! · ready for prime time · dinner's ready · on the ready · the devil to pay and no pitch hot or ready · ready-handed · ready as I'll ever be · unready · ready-to-drink · ready to roll · ready to rock and roll · ready, fire, aim · go! · ready money · ready and waiting · camera ready · ready like Freddy · ready or not · single and ready to mingle · ready queue · ready-reckoner · aim · Ready Reckoners · ready as Freddy · ready to hand · combat-ready · readily · ready for the off · ready salted · at the ready · my body is ready · ready-mixed · ready-handedness · harvest-ready · ready, steady, go · readiment · readiness · school-ready · ready meal · shovel-ready · ready reckoner · get ready · overready · rough-and-ready · readyprint · ready about · ready-made · ready-meal · ready-cooked · ready-mix · ready to rock · set · ready, willing, and able · ready to be tied · ready-to-wear · ready for primetime · ready room · ready up
Hypernyms
cable-ready · camera-ready · make-ready · shovel-ready · oven-ready
Synonyms
dexterous · prompt · easy · expert · fit · good to go
Translations (196)
fi nokkela (not slow or hesitating; quick in action or perception) · ang gearu (prepared for immediate action or use) · sv redo (prepared for immediate action or use) · el έτοιμος (prepared for immediate action or use) · ba әҙер (prepared for immediate action or use) · tr anık (prepared for immediate action or use) · hi सज्ज (prepared for immediate action or use) · es aprestado (prepared for immediate action or use) · la aptus (prepared for immediate action or use) · io pronta (prepared for immediate action or use) · eu gertu (prepared for immediate action or use) · ta தயார் (prepared for immediate action or use) · hi तैनात (prepared for immediate action or use) · lo ພ້ອມ (prepared for immediate action or use) · es alistado (prepared for immediate action or use) · sl gotov (prepared for immediate action or use) · ga fa réir (prepared for immediate action or use) · ka მზად (prepared for immediate action or use) · ckb ئامادە (prepared for immediate action or use) · la promptus (prepared for immediate action or use) · mt lest (prepared for immediate action or use) · izh valmis (prepared for immediate action or use) · de fertig (prepared for immediate action or use) · eo preta (prepared for immediate action or use) · lt pasiruošęs (prepared for immediate action or use) · hy պատրաստ (inclined, apt to happen) · fa آماده (prepared for immediate action or use) · sco boun (prepared for immediate action or use) · fi valmis (prepared for immediate action or use) · av хӏадурго (inclined, apt to happen) · fr prête (prepared for immediate action or use) · fi näppärä (at hand; opportune; convenient) · de gar (prepared for immediate action or use) · it preparato (prepared for immediate action or use) · it pronto (prepared for immediate action or use) · hi सिद्ध (prepared for immediate action or use) · hi उपलब्ध (at hand; opportune; convenient) · kmr teyar (prepared for immediate action or use) · es aprontado (prepared for immediate action or use) · fi ulottuvilla oleva (at hand; opportune; convenient) · cs hotový (prepared for immediate action or use) · kmr misteed (inclined, apt to happen) · sl nared (prepared for immediate action or use) · dsb gótowy (prepared for immediate action or use) · gl espelido (not slow or hesitating; quick in action or perception) · kmr amade (prepared for immediate action or use) · pa ਤਿਆਰ (prepared for immediate action or use) · kmr berdest (at hand; opportune; convenient) · se gárvvis (prepared for immediate action or use) · ca llest (prepared for immediate action or use) · cy parod (prepared for immediate action or use) · uz tayyor (prepared for immediate action or use) · sk hotový (prepared for immediate action or use) · kmr amade (at hand; opportune; convenient) · bg приготвен (inclined, apt to happen) · fi nopeaälyinen (not slow or hesitating; quick in action or perception) · de bereit (prepared for immediate action or use) · te సిద్ధం (prepared for immediate action or use) · uk гото́вий (prepared for immediate action or use) · ckb حازر (inclined, apt to happen) · mn бэлэн (prepared for immediate action or use) · yai тайор (prepared for immediate action or use) · kmr meyldar (inclined, apt to happen) · txb ārwer (prepared for immediate action or use) · is tilbúinn (prepared for immediate action or use) · ar مُسْتَعِدّ (inclined, apt to happen) · ro gata (prepared for immediate action or use) · ota حاضر (prepared for immediate action or use) · cs připravený (prepared for immediate action or use) · sh готов (prepared for immediate action or use) · eu prest (prepared for immediate action or use) · sh spreman (prepared for immediate action or use) · kmr hazir (inclined, apt to happen) · cmn 準備好的 /准备好的 (prepared for immediate action or use) · th พร้อม (prepared for immediate action or use) · lad listo (prepared for immediate action or use) · es listoco (prepared for immediate action or use) · hi इच्छुक (prepared for immediate action or use) · vi sẵn sàng (prepared for immediate action or use) · de parat (prepared for immediate action or use) · bg готов (not slow or hesitating; quick in action or perception) · lad aparejado (prepared for immediate action or use) · ur تیار (prepared for immediate action or use) · inh кийча (prepared for immediate action or use) · kmr amade (inclined, apt to happen) · hi आमादा (prepared for immediate action or use) · nl gereed (prepared for immediate action or use) · ja 用意の出来た (prepared for immediate action or use) · sl pripravljen (prepared for immediate action or use) · bg готов (prepared for immediate action or use) · tr razı (inclined, apt to happen) · ka მზად (inclined, apt to happen) · fi sukkela (not slow or hesitating; quick in action or perception) · mk спремен (prepared for immediate action or use) · kk дайын (prepared for immediate action or use) · no parat (prepared for immediate action or use) · sv redo (inclined, apt to happen) · it pronto (not slow or hesitating; quick in action or perception) · pt pronto (prepared for immediate action or use) · te తయారు (prepared for immediate action or use) · grc ἑτοῖμος (prepared for immediate action or use) · sq gati (prepared for immediate action or use) · arz جاهز (prepared for immediate action or use) · hu készen (prepared for immediate action or use) · yi פֿאַרטיק (prepared for immediate action or use) · ja 出来上がり (prepared for immediate action or use) · hi मुस्तैद (inclined, apt to happen) · no beredt (inclined, apt to happen) · ga ullamh (prepared for immediate action or use) · pt pronto (inclined, apt to happen) · ga faoi réir (prepared for immediate action or use) · fi valmis (liable at any moment) · fi valpas (not slow or hesitating; quick in action or perception) · sh спреман (prepared for immediate action or use) · gu સજ્જ (prepared for immediate action or use) · so diyaar (prepared for immediate action or use) · et valmis (prepared for immediate action or use) · sh gotov (prepared for immediate action or use) · pt preparado (prepared for immediate action or use) · lad preparado (prepared for immediate action or use) · gu તૈયાર (prepared for immediate action or use) · hi तत्पर (not slow or hesitating; quick in action or perception) · tg тайор (prepared for immediate action or use) · bn প্রস্তুত (prepared for immediate action or use) · os цӕттӕ (prepared for immediate action or use) · av хӏадураб (prepared for immediate action or use) · ms sedia (prepared for immediate action or use) · fi kätevä (at hand; opportune; convenient) · ltg gotovs (prepared for immediate action or use) · de bereit (at hand; opportune; convenient) · kbd хьэзыр (prepared for immediate action or use) · az hazır (prepared for immediate action or use) · ko 준비된 (prepared for immediate action or use) · es listo (prepared for immediate action or use) · haw mākaukau (prepared for immediate action or use) · hi तत्पर (prepared for immediate action or use) · got 𐌼𐌰𐌽𐍅𐌿𐍃 (prepared for immediate action or use) · lt paruoštas (prepared for immediate action or use) · ar مُسْتَعِدّ (prepared for immediate action or use) · ga réidh (prepared for immediate action or use) · mr तयार (prepared for immediate action or use) · af af (prepared for immediate action or use) · hi तैयार (prepared for immediate action or use) · kk даяр (prepared for immediate action or use) · no klar (prepared for immediate action or use) · kix ûm (liable at any moment) · mk готов (prepared for immediate action or use) · bg наличен (at hand; opportune; convenient) · nl klaar (prepared for immediate action or use) · fa رو به راه (prepared for immediate action or use) · lv gatavs (prepared for immediate action or use) · lb prett (prepared for immediate action or use) · fi nopea (not slow or hesitating; quick in action or perception) · zdj tiyari (prepared for immediate action or use) · gd ma réir (prepared for immediate action or use) · no rede (inclined, apt to happen) · fa تیار (prepared for immediate action or use) · tr hazır (prepared for immediate action or use) · ja 準備の出来た (prepared for immediate action or use) · ab ахиа (inclined, apt to happen) · ne तयार (prepared for immediate action or use) · kmr hazir (at hand; opportune; convenient) · lad dispuesto (prepared for immediate action or use) · oc lèst (prepared for immediate action or use) · hu kész (inclined, apt to happen) · la parātus (prepared for immediate action or use) · hi उद्यत (prepared for immediate action or use) · ca disposat (inclined, apt to happen) · gd ullamh (prepared for immediate action or use) · fi käytettävissä oleva (at hand; opportune; convenient) · be гато́вы (prepared for immediate action or use) · tr meyyal (inclined, apt to happen) · pdt reed (prepared for immediate action or use) · hu kész (prepared for immediate action or use) · mi reri (prepared for immediate action or use) · gd deiseil (prepared for immediate action or use) · pl gotowy (prepared for immediate action or use) · fi sanavalmis (not slow or hesitating; quick in action or perception) · ar حَاضِر (inclined, apt to happen) · ar جَاهِز (prepared for immediate action or use) · az hazır (inclined, apt to happen) · sah бэлэм (prepared for immediate action or use) · ce кийча (prepared for immediate action or use) · es en fa (prepared for immediate action or use) · fr prêt (prepared for immediate action or use) · hi मुस्तैद (prepared for immediate action or use) · hy պատրաստ (prepared for immediate action or use) · as সাজু (prepared for immediate action or use) · mi takatū (prepared for immediate action or use) · is tilbúinn (inclined, apt to happen) · sv beredd (prepared for immediate action or use) · ru гото́вый (prepared for immediate action or use) · ltg sasarūss (prepared for immediate action or use) · he מוּכָן (prepared for immediate action or use) · km ត្រៀមខ្លួនជាស្រេច (prepared for immediate action or use) · kmr hazir (prepared for immediate action or use)