make ready

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

read•y /ˈrɛdi/   adj., -i•er, -i•est, v., read•ied, read•y•ing. 
adj. 

1. completely prepared or in fit condition for action or use:
   [be + ~] The car is ready for you to pick up from the repair shop.
   [~ + for]
   The troops were ready for battle.
   [~ + to + verb]
   The team was ready to play its best game ever.
2. willing; not hesitating:
   [be + ~ + to + verb] He was always ready to criticize.
3. prompt or quick in seeing and understanding, comprehending, speaking, action, performing, etc.:
   [before a noun] a ready reply; a ready wit.
4. in such a condition as to be likely to do something at any moment:
   [be + ~ + to + verb] a tree that was ready to fall.
5. immediately available for use:
   [before a noun] He had a reserve of ready money.

v. [~ + object]

6. to make ready;
   prepare:
   The chef was readying dinner.

Idioms

7. Idioms at the ready, ready for use:
   held their weapons at the ready.

read•i•ly /ˈrɛdəli/  adv. 
read•i•ness, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

make-read•y  (māk′red′ē), n. 

1. Printing the process of preparing a form for printing by overlays or underlays to equalize the impression.
2. the act or process of making something ready for use:
   a charge for make-ready on the new car.

• noun, nominal use of verb, verbal phrase make ready 1820–30

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

read•y  (red′ē), adj., read•i•er, read•i•est, v., read•ied, read•y•ing, n., interj. 
adj. 

1. completely prepared or in fit condition for immediate action or use:
   troops ready for battle; Dinner is ready.
2. duly equipped, completed, adjusted, or arranged, as for an occasion or purpose:
   The mechanic called to say that the car is ready.
3. willing:
   ready to forgive.
4. prompt or quick in perceiving, comprehending, speaking, writing, etc.
5. proceeding from or showing such quickness:
   a ready reply.
6. prompt or quick in action, performance, manifestation, etc.:
   a keen mind and ready wit.
7. inclined;
   disposed;
   apt:
   too ready to criticize others.
8. in such a condition as to be imminent;
   likely at any moment:
   a tree ready to fall.
9. immediately available for use:
   a ready source of cash.
10. pertaining to prompt payment.
11. present or convenient:
    to lie ready to one's hand.
12. get ready! (in calling the start of a race) be prepared to start:
    Get ready! Get set! Go!
13. make ready:
    • to bring to a state of readiness or completion;
      prepare.
    • Printing to ready a press for printing.

v.t. 

14. to make ready;
    prepare.
15. British Terms ready up, and Australian Slang. to swindle.

n. 

16. the state or condition of being ready.
17. Informal Terms ready money;
    cash.
18. at the ready, in a condition of readiness, available for immediate use:
    shoppers with their umbrellas at the ready; soldiers keeping their weapons at the ready.

interj. 

19. (used in calling the start of a race to indicate that racers should be prepared to start):
    Ready! Set! Go!

• Middle English redy, early Middle English rædig, equivalent. to Old English rǣde prompt + -ig -y¹ 1150–1200

Synonyms

• 1. fit, set.
• 3. agreeable, glad, happy.
• 4. alert, acute, sharp, keen, adroit, facile, clever, skillful, nimble, adaptable.

Antonyms

• 1. unfit.
• 3. unwilling.

Usage

See already. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

ready / ˈrɛdɪ/ adjective (readier, readiest)

1. in a state of completion or preparedness, as for use or action
2. willing or eager: ready helpers
3. prompt or rapid: a ready response
4. (prenominal) quick in perceiving; intelligent: a ready mind
5. (postpositive) followed by to: on the point (of) or liable (to): ready to collapse
6. (postpositive) conveniently near (esp in the phrase ready to hand)
7. make ready, get ready ⇒ to prepare oneself or something for use or action

noun

1. the ready ⇒
   short for ready money
2. at the ready ⇒ poised for use or action: with pen at the ready
3. (of a rifle) in the position normally adopted immediately prior to aiming and firing

verb

1. (transitive) to put in a state of readiness; prepare

Etymology: Old English (ge)rǣde; related to Old Frisian rēde, Old High German reiti, Old Norse reithr ready