READY (readier, readiest)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

Irregular inflected forms: readier    , readiest   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does ready mean? 

• READY (noun)
  The noun READY has 1 sense:

1. poised for action

  Familiarity information: READY used as a noun is very rare.

• READY (adjective)
  The adjective READY has 5 senses:

1. completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress

2. (of especially money) immediately available

3. mentally disposed

4. made suitable and available for immediate use

5. apprehending and responding with speed and sensitivity

  Familiarity information: READY used as an adjective is common.

• READY (verb)
  The verb READY has 2 senses:

1. prepare for eating by applying heat

2. make ready or suitable or equip in advance for a particular purpose or for some use, event, etc

  Familiarity information: READY used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• READY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Poised for action

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Context example:

their guns were at the ready

Hypernyms ("ready" is a kind of...):

preparation; preparedness; readiness (the state of having been made ready or prepared for use or action (especially military action))

Derivation:

ready (make ready or suitable or equip in advance for a particular purpose or for some use, event, etc)

ready (completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress)

• READY (adjective)

Comparative: readier   
Superlative: readiest   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress

Context example:

ready to learn to read

Similar:

at the ready (ready for immediate use)

fit; primed; set ((usually followed by 'to' or 'for') on the point of or strongly disposed)

in order (in a state of proper readiness or preparation or arrangement)

prompt (ready and willing or quick to act)

ripe (fully prepared or eager)

ready and waiting; waiting (being and remaining ready and available for use)

Also:

prepared (made ready or fit or suitable beforehand)

willing (disposed or inclined toward)

Attribute:

preparation; preparedness; readiness (the state of having been made ready or prepared for use or action (especially military action))

Antonym:

unready (not prepared or in a state of readiness; slow to understand or respond)

Derivation:

readiness (the state of having been made ready or prepared for use or action (especially military action))

ready (poised for action)

Sense 2

Meaning:

(of especially money) immediately available

Context example:

a ready source of cash

Similar:

available (obtainable or accessible and ready for use or service)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Mentally disposed

Context example:

he was ready to believe her

Similar:

willing (disposed or inclined toward)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Made suitable and available for immediate use

Context example:

dinner is ready

Similar:

prepared (made ready or fit or suitable beforehand)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Apprehending and responding with speed and sensitivity

Synonyms:

quick; ready

Context example:

a ready wit

Similar:

intelligent (having the capacity for thought and reason especially to a high degree)

Derivation:

readiness (a natural effortlessness)

• READY (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they ready    ... he / she / it readies   
Past simple: readied   
Past participle: readied   
-ing form: readying   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Prepare for eating by applying heat

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Synonyms:

cook; fix; make; prepare; ready

Context example:

fix breakfast for the guests, please

Hypernyms (to "ready" is one way to...):

create from raw material; create from raw stuff (make from scratch)

Verb group:

make (gather and light the materials for)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "ready"):

lard (prepare or cook with lard)

concoct; cook up (prepare or cook by mixing ingredients)

whip up; whomp up (prepare or cook quickly or hastily)

precook (cook beforehand so that the actual preparation won't take long)

devil (coat or stuff with a spicy paste)

put on (put on the stove or ready for cooking)

flambe (pour liquor over and ignite (a dish))

escallop; scallop (bake in a sauce, milk, etc., often with breadcrumbs on top)

deglaze (dissolve cooking juices or solid food in (a pan) by adding liquid and stirring)

dress; dress out (kill and prepare for market or consumption)

keep; preserve (prevent (food) from rotting)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sentence example:

The chefs ready the vegetables

Sense 2

Meaning:

Make ready or suitable or equip in advance for a particular purpose or for some use, event, etc

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

fix; gear up; prepare; ready; set; set up

Context example:

I was fixing to leave town after I paid the hotel bill

Hypernyms (to "ready" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "ready"):

provide (take measures in preparation for)

brace; poise (prepare (oneself) for something unpleasant or difficult)

crop; cultivate; work (prepare for crops)

prime (insert a primer into (a gun, mine, or charge) preparatory to detonation or firing)

summerise; summerize (prepare for summer)

winterise; winterize (prepare for winter)

mount (fix onto a backing, setting, or support)

fix (kill, preserve, and harden (tissue) in order to prepare for microscopic study)

precondition (put into the required condition beforehand)

cram (prepare (students) hastily for an impending exam)

socialise; socialize (prepare for social life)

lay out; set; set up (get ready for a particular purpose or event)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody PP
Somebody ----s something PP
Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE

Derivation:

ready (poised for action)

readying (the activity of putting or setting in order in advance of some act or purpose)

 Context examples 

"So now let us all get ready, for it will be a long journey."

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

Henry Crawford was ready to take either.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

“For this very reason have I come here,” the tailor replied, “I am ready to enter the king’s service.”

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

And ready to start with an exploring ship?

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

We must be ready for Dr. Van Helsing when he comes.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Mars in your sign will give you unusually strong determination to get approvals, and if you get a no, you will have your case ready for why the person in charge should reconsider.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

Putting on a big apron, she fell to work and got the dishes piled up ready for washing, when she discovered that the fire was out.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

I left Gateshead yesterday: and if you can get ready, Miss, I should like to take you back with me early to-morrow morning.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

The state of being alert and ready to respond, or waking from sleep.

(Alert, NCI Dictionary)

"They've half got you a'ready, a-talkin' like that," Henry retorted sharply.

(White Fang, by Jack London)