- ready
- [[t]re̱di[/t]]
♦♦readier, readiest, readies, readying, readied1) ADJ: v-link ADJ, oft ADJ for n, ADJ to-inf If someone is ready, they are properly prepared for something. If something is ready, it has been properly prepared and is now able to be used.
It took her a long time to get ready for church...
The cocaine was ready for distribution...
Are you ready to board, Mr. Daly?...
In a few days time the sprouts will be ready to eat...
Tomorrow he would tell his pilot to get the aircraft ready...
It's eight-fifteen, dear, and your breakfast's ready.
2) ADJ: v-link ADJ, usu ADJ for n, ADJ to-inf If you are ready for something or ready to do something, you have enough experience to do it or you are old enough and sensible enough to do it.She says she's not ready for marriage...
You'll have no trouble getting him into a normal school when you feel he's ready to go.
3) ADJ-GRADED: v-link ADJ to-inf If you are ready to do something, you are willing to do it.They were ready to die for their beliefs...
She was always ready to give interviews.
Syn:4) ADJ: v-link ADJ for n If you are ready for something, you need it or want it.I don't know about you, but I'm ready for bed...
After five days in the heat of Bangkok, we were ready for the beach.
5) ADJ: v-link ADJ to-inf To be ready to do something means to be about to do it or likely to do it.She looked ready to cry...
Just as we were ready to sit down to dinner, a little boy came running in...
He says it's like a volcano ready to erupt.
6) ADJ-GRADED: ADJ n You use ready to describe things that are able to be used very quickly and easily.I didn't have a ready answer for this dilemma...
`But not quite yet,' he says quickly, with that ready smile of his...
Why does German industry enjoy such a ready supply of well-trained and well-motivated workers?
7) ADJ: ADJ n Ready money is in the form of notes and coins rather than cheques or credit cards, and so it can be used immediately.I'm afraid I don't have enough ready cash, but I'll call a colleague from another store.
N-PLURAL: usu the NReady money is sometimes referred to as the readies. [BRIT, INFORMAL]She was a bit short of the readies.
8) VERB When you ready something, you prepare it for a particular purpose. [FORMAL][V n for n] John's soldiers were readying themselves for the final assault...
[V n for n] In Egypt, two new camps were readied for the absorption of refugees...
[V n] Cameramen readied tripods. [Also V n to-inf]
Syn:9) COMB in ADJ Ready combines with past participles to indicate that something has already been done, and that therefore you do not have to do it yourself.You can buy ready-printed forms for wills at stationery shops...
If you buy the fish ready filleted, make sure the flesh is firm and springy.
10) PHRASE: usu n PHR If you have something at the ready, you have it in a position where it can be quickly and easily used.Soldiers came charging through the forest, guns at the ready.
11) PHRASE: v-link PHR (emphasis) If you want to emphasize that a person is properly prepared for something, or that something can now be used, you can say that they are ready and waiting.She liked to be ready and waiting at home when Bernard returned from work...
The chalet was kept ready and waiting for them at all times.
12) CONVENTION If you say to someone `Ready when you are', you are telling them that you are now ready to do something and that as soon as they are ready, you will do it.`Are you ready to pull out?' - `I'm ready when you are, Captain.'
English dictionary. 2008.
