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

This article is intended to help business leaders evaluate these evolving payment technologies through the lens of customer experience, operational efficiency and digital readiness, not as investment advice. —Ali Faizan Rizvi, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025

The United States nuclear forces validated the readiness and capability of bombers and intercontinental ballistic missiles by conducting an exercise and a test earlier this month. —Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Apr. 2025

Matthew Wills July 29, 2023 While war is an environmental as well as human disaster, readiness and preparation for armed conflict is more ambiguous ecologically. —The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 22 Apr. 2025

There will be presentations on reducing wildfire risks, community readiness and emergency notification systems. —Nollyanne Delacruz, Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for readiness

• steadiness
• unsteadiness