ready
A1Neutral to informal
Definition
Meaning
Fully prepared or equipped for immediate action or use; in a suitable state.
Willing or eager to do something; easily available or at hand; quick and intelligent in understanding or reacting.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily an adjective describing a state of preparation. Can also be a verb (to ready), adverb (readily), and noun (the ready). Its meaning spans physical preparedness, mental willingness, and prompt availability.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. The verb 'to ready' is perhaps slightly more frequent in American English (e.g., 'The team readied themselves').
Connotations
Identical core connotations.
Frequency
Extremely high frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
ready for [noun phrase]ready to [infinitive verb]get [object] readyVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Ready, steady, go!”
- “At the ready”
- “Rough and ready”
- “A ready reckoner”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used for project milestones ('We are ready for launch'), product availability ('ready-to-wear'), and financial liquidity ('ready funds').
Academic
Used to describe research preparedness ('The data is ready for analysis') or a student's state ('ready to proceed to the next level').
Everyday
Ubiquitous for preparation (dinner, travel, events) and willingness ('I'm ready to help').
Technical
In computing/engineering: a system state ('device ready', 'ready signal'). In military: a state of alert ('Ready on the firing line').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She readied the guest room for the visitors.
- The crew are readying the ship for departure.
American English
- He readied his response for the debate.
- They're readying the stadium for the big game.
adverb
British English
- The information is readily available online.
- He readily agreed to help.
American English
- These parts are readily interchangeable.
- She readily admitted her mistake.
adjective
British English
- Are you ready for your driving test?
- Keep your passport ready in your hand luggage.
American English
- Is dinner ready yet?
- The software update is ready to install.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I'm ready to go to school.
- Is the food ready?
- Get ready, the bus is coming!
- We need to be ready for any problems that might occur.
- She had a ready answer for every question.
- The troops stood ready for orders.
- The company positioned itself, ready to capitalise on the new market trend.
- His ready wit often defused tense situations.
- The contract is drawn up and ready for your signature.
- The legislation, though rough and ready, addressed the most urgent concerns.
- He possessed a ready grasp of complex theoretical concepts.
- The funds were kept at the ready for such an eventuality.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a race starter saying 'READY?' You are fully prepared to run. The word itself sounds like 'red' + 'E' – imagine a red 'E' for 'Emergency' button that is always prepared to be pressed.
Conceptual Metaphor
PREPAREDNESS IS A STATE OF COMPLETENESS (The plan is cooked and ready to serve). WILLINGNESS IS READINESS FOR ACTION (My mind is primed and ready).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation of 'готовый' for inanimate objects in contexts where 'available' or 'finished' is better (e.g., 'Dinner is ready' = 'Ужин готов', but 'The report is ready' = 'Отчёт готов/завершён', not 'готовый').
- Do not confuse 'I am ready to...' with 'I am going to...'. The former expresses preparedness/willingness, not future intention.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'ready' as a noun incorrectly (e.g., 'in a ready' instead of 'at the ready' or 'in readiness').
- Overusing 'ready' where a more specific verb is better (e.g., 'He readied the presentation' vs. 'He prepared/finalised the presentation').
Practice
Quiz
In the phrase 'ready money', what is the closest meaning of 'ready'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
As an adjective, 'ready' describes a state, making it stative. You typically don't use it in continuous forms (*I am being ready). The verb 'to ready' is dynamic and can be used progressively (e.g., 'They are readying the hall').
'Ready' often implies immediate action or use, focusing on the final state. 'Prepared' can emphasise the process of making ready and can sound more formal or thorough. They are often interchangeable, but 'prepared' is preferred for complex or formal contexts (e.g., 'prepared statement', 'well-prepared lesson').
Both comparative forms exist. 'More ready' is more common and neutral. 'Readier' is grammatically correct but sounds slightly old-fashioned or literary (e.g., 'He was readier to forgive than she was').
It's a fixed phrase meaning 'in a state of preparation for immediate action'. It often describes a physical object held in position (e.g., 'The photographer waited with his camera at the ready') or a resource kept available ('Extra supplies were kept at the ready').
Collections
Part of a collection
Basic Adjectives
A1 · 46 words · Fundamental describing words used every day.
Daily Routine
A1 · 50 words · Words for describing your everyday activities and schedule.