ready

read|y1 [ `redi ] adjective ***

1. ) never before noun prepared for what is going to happen:

We'll never be ready in time.

ready to do something: Are you ready to go yet?

ready for: She was ready for a new challenge.

nearly/just about/almost ready: Hang on! I'm nearly ready!

a ) in a suitable condition for use:

Is dinner ready?

Your laundry will be ready by 5:00.

have something ready: We can have your order ready by 5:00.

get something ready: I'd just got tea ready when they called.

b ) get ready/get someone ready to prepare yourself/someone else to do something:

She's upstairs getting ready to go out.

ready for: It was time to get the kids ready for bed.

c ) ready with someone who is ready with something is always prepared and willing to say or do it:

He was always ready with a story to cheer us up.

2. ) willing to do something:

ready to do something: The staff is always ready to work overtime if necessary.

You are too ready to find fault with other people.

3. ) only before noun FORMAL easily and quickly produced or available:

This type of account gives you ready access to your money.

a ready smile

a ) ready cash/money money in the form of coins and bills that you can spend immediately

ready for something/ready to do something

feeling that you must have or must do something:

We were all more than ready for a vacation.

ready, get set, go SPOKEN

used for starting a race

ready to do something

likely to do something immediately:

The engine looked ready to explode at any minute.

ready, willing, and able

willing to do something and capable of doing it

when you're ready SPOKEN

used for telling someone to start something when they feel ready to. This expression is often used humorously for telling someone that you are waiting for them to do something.

read|y2 [ `redi ] verb transitive FORMAL

to make someone or something ready to do something

read|y3 [ `redi ] noun

at the ready

prepared for immediate use or action