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| Date: | 1100-1200 |
| Language: | Old English |
| Origin: | ræde 'prepared' |
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read‧y1
1 if you are ready, you are prepared for what you are going to do : 
Come on. Aren't you ready yet?
prepared
[not before noun]Come on. Aren't you ready yet? when you're ready (=said to tell someone that you are ready for them to start doing something)
ready when you are (=said to tell someone that you are ready to do what you have arranged to do together)
➔ prepare2 if something is ready, someone has prepared it and you can use it immediately : When will supper be ready?
for immediate use
[not before noun]When will supper be ready? ready for Is everything ready for the exhibition?
Is everything ready for the exhibition?3 to have something near you so that you can use it if you need to : I had my calculator ready.
have something ready
I had my calculator ready.4 to need or want something as soon as possible : I'm really ready for a vacation.
be/feel ready for something
spokenI'm really ready for a vacation.5 to be likely to do something soon : She looked ready to burst into tears.
be ready to do something
informalShe looked ready to burst into tears.6 very willing to do something
willing
[not before noun] ready to do something He was always ready to help us.
He was always ready to help us.7 available or coming without delay : They need to have ready access to police files.
quick
[only before noun]They need to have ready access to police files.9 used to tell people to start a race
ready, steady, go!
British English get ready, get set, go! American English spokenDS ➔ readily, readiness
