- [not before noun] fully prepared for what you are going to do and able to start it immediately
- Just a minute—I'm almost ready.
- Are you nearly ready?
- ‘Shall we go?’ ‘I'm ready when you are!’
- ready for something I'm just getting the kids ready for school.
- ready to do something Right, we're ready to go.
- We were getting ready to go out.
- Volunteers were ready and waiting to pack the food in boxes.
Extra Examples- He's always ready with a quick answer.
- I think we're just about ready to start.
- I was all ready to leave when the phone rang.
- I'm trying to get the children ready to leave.
- Our troops keep training all the time to remain ready.
- We're definitely ready for the show tonight.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- appear
- be
- feel
- …
- all
- completely
- totally
- …
- for
- with
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- [not before noun] having the experience, attitude, etc. that you need in order to be able to deal with something
- Her husband wants to start a family, but she isn't ready.
- ready for something I’m not sure if Karen is ready for marriage yet.
- I was twenty years old and ready for anything.
- ready to do something He is clearly not ready to take on such an important role.
Extra Examples- He didn't feel quite ready for marriage.
- I feel ready for anything!
- She was concerned to protect the children from the truth until she judged them ready to hear it.
- [not before noun] completed and available to be used
- Come on, dinner's ready!
- The new building should be ready by 2030.
- ready for something Can you help me get everything ready for the party?
- ready to do something The contract will be ready to sign in two weeks.
Extra Examples- I've left everything ready in the kitchen.
- I'll get all the boxes ready.
- The cases are ready for delivery.
- The suitcases were standing ready by the front door.
- The plane was refuelled and declared ready for service again.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- appear
- be
- feel
- …
- all
- completely
- totally
- …
- for
- with
- available to be used easily and immediately
- All the relevant records are ready to hand.
- a ready supply of wood
- a ready source of income
Extra Examples- Please have your tickets ready for inspection.
- He held his gun ready.
- The warships were soon made ready.
- [not before noun] willing and quick to do or give something
- ready for something I was very angry and ready for a fight.
- ready with something She's always ready with advice.
- ready to do something He's always ready and willing to help.
- Don't be so ready to believe the worst about people.
Extra Examples- She was only too ready to believe the worst of him.
- Connors was more than ready to oblige.
- He's always ready to help.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- appear
- be
- seem
- …
- more than
- only too
- very
- …
- ready and willing
- ready to do something likely to do something very soon synonym on the point of
- She looked ready to collapse at any minute.
- ready for something needing something as soon as possible
- Right, I'm ready for bed.
- After the long walk, we were all ready for a rest.
- [only before noun] quick and clever
- She has great charm and a ready wit.
prepared/available
willing
likely to do something
needing something
quick/clever
Word OriginMiddle English: from Old English rǣde (from a Germanic base meaning ‘arrange, prepare’; related to Dutch gereed) + -y.
Idioms
See ready in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee ready in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishmake ready (for something)
- (formal) to prepare for something; to prepare something for something
- to make ready for the President’s visit
ready, steady, go! (British English)
(also (get) ready, (get) set, go North American English, British English)
- what you say to tell people to start a race
ready to roll
- (informal) ready to start
- The show is just about ready to roll.
Check pronunciation:
ready