at the ready

phrase

Synonyms of at the readynext
: ready for immediate use
kept guns at the ready

Examples of at the ready in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Having a bank of clinical research at the ready means the list of treatments can be shortened, saving time and allowing future research to focus on what is most likely to be safe and effective. — Mike McRae 26, New Atlas, 26 Aug. 2026 Federal agents were waiting on the tarmac to greet them, handcuffs at the ready. — Senior Editor, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026 Most projects do not have funding at the ready by default, however. — Charlotte Observer, 21 Aug. 2026 This kept all English ships at their home ports, at the ready for defense. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for at the ready

Word History

First Known Use

1837, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of at the ready was in 1837

Rhymes for at the ready

See All Rhymes for at the ready

Browse Nearby Words

at the pump
at the ready
at the risk of
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“At the ready.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/at%20the%20ready. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on at the ready

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for at the ready

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All