ready
/ˈredi/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈredi/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈre-dē/ (ame, mw) · /ˈred.i/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈred.i/ (ame, ipa)
ready — 形容詞
- readypositive
- readiercomparative
- readiestsuperlative
1. fully prepared so that you can begin using something or start doing something wi
準備好的
已備妥可立即使用或開始行動
fully prepared so that you can begin using something or start doing something with no delay.
Dinner is ready — please come to the table.
晚餐準備好了，請到餐桌就座。
be ready for something ready to be used
Ayesha spent the morning getting the guest room ready for her mother's visit.
Ayesha 花了一整個早上整理客房，準備迎接母親來訪。
get + object + ready + for
Are you ready to leave for the airport, or do you need more time?
你準備好去機場了嗎？還需要更多時間嗎？
The engineers said the new bridge will be ready by next spring.
工程師說新橋明年春天就能完工。
Kian packed his school bag the night before to be ready for the morning.
Kian 前一晚就把書包整理好，為隔天早上做好準備。
- unprepared
not ready because no preparation was done
- unready
less common; used mostly in formal or literary contexts
文法句型
be ready
ready for + noun phrase
ready to + infinitive
get (something) ready
常見錯誤
2. willing and eager to do something because you have no objection or you are keen
樂意的
願意且準備好做某事
willing and eager to do something because you have no objection or you are keen to help.
The volunteers were ready to help with the food distribution at any time.
志工們隨時都願意協助分發食物。
ready + to-infinitive for willingness
Vinícius is always ready to listen when his friends need to talk.
Vinícius 在朋友需要傾訴時，總是樂於傾聽。
The company said it is ready to negotiate a new contract with the workers.
該公司表示願意與員工協商新合約。
Nkechi's little brother was ready to try any sport she suggested.
Nkechi 的弟弟很願意嘗試她建議的任何運動。
Noa's parents were ready to drive her to practice every evening after school.
Noa 的父母放學後每晚都樂意開車送她去練球。
- willing
focuses purely on the attitude, without any sense of preparation
- eager
stronger enthusiasm than 'ready'; implies excitement about doing something
- prepared to
slightly more formal; suggests thoughtful acceptance of a task
文法句型
ready to + infinitive (willingness)
用法筆記
Subject is typically a person or organisation that freely chooses to act. Unlike sense 1, this sense does not require prior physical preparation — the emphasis is on attitude and willingness.
常見錯誤
3. able to produce clever answers, ideas, or expressions with speed, especially dur
機敏的
反應快且能立即應對
able to produce clever answers, ideas, or expressions with speed, especially during conversation or under pressure.
Caleb has a ready wit that keeps everyone at the dinner table laughing.
Caleb 機智幽默，總讓餐桌上的每個人都笑聲不斷。
attributive use: ready + noun
The politician gave a ready answer to every question from the reporters.
那位政治人物對記者提出的每個問題都能快速回應。
Niran's ready smile made him popular with customers at the shop.
Niran 隨時掛著笑容，讓店裡的顧客都很喜歡他。
During the debate, a journalist offered a ready response to the speaker's claims.
辯論中，一位記者對主講人的說法迅速作出回應。
My aunt is always ready with a funny story whenever the conversation slows down.
每當談話冷場時，我姑姑總能立刻講個有趣的故事。
文法句型
ready + noun (attributive)
ready with + noun phrase
用法筆記
In this sense, 'ready' is most often used directly before a noun ('ready wit', 'ready smile', 'ready answer') rather than predicatively after 'be'. A predicative use like 'He is ready' on its own would be understood as sense 1, not sense 3.
常見錯誤
4. very close to doing something or having something happen; on the point of a part
快要；即將
很可能即將發生或處於某種狀態
very close to doing something or having something happen; on the point of a particular action or state.
The old wooden bridge looked ready to collapse after the heavy rain.
那座舊木橋在大雨過後看起來快要塌了。
inanimate subject + ready to + infinitive (imminence)
Eri felt ready to cry when she heard the disappointing news.
Eri 聽到那個令人失望的消息時，差點哭出來。
The dark clouds suggested the sky was ready to pour rain at any moment.
烏雲密布，天空隨時可能會下起傾盆大雨。
The child was so tired he seemed ready to fall asleep right at the table.
那個孩子累得好像隨時會在桌上睡著。
After the argument, the two colleagues appeared ready to walk out of the meeting.
爭吵過後，兩位同事看起來快要走出會議室了。
- about to
neutral indicator of near future; does not suggest any preparation
- on the verge of
more dramatic; suggests a tipping point is approaching
- likely to
focuses on probability rather than nearness in time
- unlikely to
low probability of happening
- far from
not close to a particular state or action
文法句型
ready to + infinitive (near future)
用法筆記
The subject is often an inanimate thing or a person approaching a threshold state (e.g., 'ready to burst', 'ready to explode', 'ready to leave'). Distinguish from sense 1, where preparation is the focus, and sense 2, where willingness is the focus — here the emphasis is on imminence and near-inevitability.
常見錯誤
❌ 'The building is ready to fall down.' (intending it is about to fall) — This is actually correct in sense 4, but learners sometimes use 'ready' here when they mean 'likely' or 'about to'. The sentence is fine; just note that no planning is involved.
5. already in a state where you can take it and start using it right away, with no
現成的
可立即取用的（金錢、資源等）
already in a state where you can take it and start using it right away, with no waiting or extra work — especially for money, food, or other supplies.
Keep your passport ready so the officer can check it quickly.
把護照準備好，方便人員快速查驗。
have + object + ready
Christopher always keeps some cash ready for unexpected expenses.
Christopher 身邊總會留一些現金，以備不時之需。
The hospital keeps a supply of emergency blood ready at all times.
醫院隨時儲備著急用血液，以備不時之需。
When applying for a visa, have your documents ready before the interview.
申請簽證前，先把文件準備好再去面談。
The company has a large amount of ready capital to invest in new projects.
該公司擁有大筆可用資金，可以投資新項目。
- available
broader; does not carry the same sense of immediate access
- accessible
emphasises ease of reaching rather than state of preparation
- on hand
informal phrase meaning close by and ready to use
- unavailable
not able to be obtained or used
- inaccessible
difficult or impossible to reach or get
文法句型
ready + noun (money, cash, supply)
have + something + ready
用法筆記
Common in financial contexts ('ready money', 'ready cash', 'ready capital') to mean funds that can be spent or invested without converting assets. For non-financial items, 'handy' is a more informal alternative.
常見錯誤
ready — 名詞
1. the state of being prepared and positioned so that something can be used or some
備用狀態
隨時可用或可行動的狀態
the state of being prepared and positioned so that something can be used or someone can act immediately, used mainly in the phrase 'at the ready'.
The firefighters stood by with their equipment at the ready.
消防員在一旁待命，裝備隨時可用。
fixed phrase: at the ready
The photographer kept her camera at the ready in case a bird landed nearby.
那位攝影師隨時舉著相機，準備捕捉飛鳥落下的瞬間。
With pencils at the ready, the students waited for the exam to begin.
學生們鉛筆在手，等待考試開始。
Romi stood at the ready with a towel as a runner neared the finish line.
Romi 拿著毛巾在一旁待命，因為有名跑者正接近終點線。
The tour guide kept a bottle of water at the ready for thirsty hikers.
導遊隨身備著一瓶水，隨時遞給口渴的健行者。
- preparedness
formal noun; refers to the general state of being ready rather than a specific position
- readiness
the more common noun form; 'in a state of readiness' is equivalent to 'at the ready'
文法句型
at the ready
用法筆記
This noun form only occurs in the fixed phrase 'at the ready'. It cannot be used on its own as a countable noun (e.g., not ❌ 'a ready'). Unlike the adjective, it does not take complements.
常見錯誤
ready — 動詞
- readypresent simple I / you / we / they
- readies3rd person singular
- readying-ing form
- readiedpast simple
1. to make something ready for use or to prepare someone for an event or situation,
準備好
使某物或某人準備就緒
to make something ready for use or to prepare someone for an event or situation, especially through careful or thorough preparation.
The team readied the stage for the evening performance.
劇組人員為晚間的演出佈置好了舞台。
ready + object + for + noun
Sophia readied herself for the job interview by practising answers in front of the mirror.
Sophia 在鏡子前練習回答問題，為面試做好準備。
reflexive: ready + oneself + for
The soldiers readied their weapons before the training exercise.
士兵們在訓練開始前準備好了武器。
Tamás readied the guest room with fresh sheets and towels for his cousin.
Tamás 為表哥準備了客房，換上乾淨的床單和毛巾。
The staff readied the conference hall for the important meeting with investors.
工作人員為與投資人的重要會議準備好了會議廳。
- prepare
more common in both speech and writing; less formal than 'ready' as a verb
- make ready
a slightly longer alternative that works in both formal and informal contexts
文法句型
ready + object
ready + oneself + for + noun
ready + object + for + noun
用法筆記
This verb is more formal than the everyday expressions 'get ready' or 'prepare'. It is common in written narratives, news reports, and formal announcements. The reflexive form 'ready oneself' is particularly literary.