readily

UK: /ˈrɛdɪli/ US: /ˈrɛdəli/ ,(red′l ē)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

read•i•ly /ˈrɛdəli/   adv. 

1. promptly;
   quickly;
   easily:
   The information was readily available.
2. willingly:
   He readily agreed to help us out.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

read•i•ly  (red′l ē), adv. 

1. promptly;
   quickly;
   easily:
   The information is readily available.
2. in a ready manner;
   willingly:
   He readily agreed to help us.

• Middle English redily. See ready, -ly 1275–1325

Synonyms

• 2. freely, graciously, ungrudgingly.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

readily / ˈrɛdɪlɪ/ adverb

1. promptly; eagerly; willingly
2. without difficulty or delay; easily or quickly

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

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 © 2026

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.