Readiness Meaning
/ˈɹɛdinəs/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounThe state or degree of being ready; preparedness.
nounWillingness.
Sentence Examples
It is correct to say that psychological readiness is important in this therapy.
A number of students announced their readiness to engage in the contest.
President Jackson's actions have kneecapped our readiness for a future crisis.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The team's ____ for the competition was shown by their daily practice and early arrival.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The army maintained a state of constant ____ to respond to any threat within hours.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree English ready Proto-Germanic *-in- Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ti Proto-Germanic *-ōną Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English readiness From ready + -ness.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"We expressed our readiness, and in ten minutes were in the station wagon, rolling rapidly down the long drive, for it was then after nine. We passed on the way the van of the guests from Asquith."
— 1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter V, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:
"Euston is so traditionally a part of the London scene that many will lament the passing of the old station when rebuilding is complete in readiness for the new electric service, which will probably be by multiple-units between Euston and Wolverhampton."
— 1960 February, R. C. Riley, “The London-Birmingham services - Past, Present and Future”, in Trains Illustrated, page 99:
"The very emphasis on reading readiness and on the methods employed to teach children the rudiments of reading has meant that the other, the higher, levels of reading have tended to be slighted."
— 1972, Mortimer J. Adler, Charles Van Doren, How to Read a Book, →ISBN, →LCCN, page 26:
"England had won just two of their previous six matches prior to facing Spain and manager Sarina Wiegman had been questioned about their readiness to defend their European title in Switzerland this summer."
— 2025 February 26, Emma Sanders, “'A proper English performance' against Spain”, in BBC Sport:
"Meanwhile, 68018 has been debranded and lost its DRS colours, in readiness for its transfer to Chiltern as a standby rescue locomotive."
— 2025 November 12, “News in Brief: Latest Chiltern makeover”, in RAIL, number 1048, page 13:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The team's ____ for the competition was shown by their daily practice and early arrival.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The army maintained a state of constant ____ to respond to any threat within hours.