readiness

noun

read·​i·​ness ˈre-dē-nəs 

: the quality or state of being ready: such as

a

: a state of preparation

As Apollo approached readiness, a new system for validating flight hardware came into use.

—William Hines

… conditions that prevented all regiments being brought to battle readiness simultaneously …

—Graham A. Cosmas

Pym presented himself at the entrance to the school drive in readiness for Mr. Cudlove's arrival.

—John le Carré

b

: prompt willingness

Kostunica has already expressed his readiness to talk with independence-minded leaders in Montenegro …

—Joshua Hammer et al.

Civil War reportage owed its successes also to the readiness of the military to accept photography as a new visual tool …

—Naomi Rosenblum

c

: ease, facility

The introduction was followed up on his side by a happy readiness of conversation …

—Jane Austen

Examples of readiness in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Most often what kept Pal out of the money won’t the training or the fitness or the readiness, but conductor error. —Literary Hub, 30 Apr. 2026

Flight testing of the Frenzy variants will serve as an early indicator of the technology’s readiness for operational use. —Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 30 Apr. 2026

Career readiness isn’t confined to a classroom or résumé workshop; it’s built through lived experience. —Ashley Bigda, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2026

After continued questioning, McMahon said the administration is open to reforming the program, likely by moving away from college readiness and increasing opportunities for workforce training. —Sequoia Carrillo, NPR, 28 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for readiness

• steadiness
• unsteadiness