readiness

noun

1 their readiness to accept new technology:

willingness, inclination, enthusiasm, eagerness, keenness, gameness;

promptness, quickness, alacrity;

ease, facility;

dated address.

2 we need to maintain our forces in a state of readiness:

preparedness, preparation, fitness.

3 I was surprised at the readiness of his reply:

promptness, quickness, rapidity, swiftness, speed, speediness, punctuality, timeliness;

cleverness, sharpness, astuteness, shrewdness, keenness, discernment, aptness, adroitness, deftness, skill, skillfulness.

□ in readiness

there were candles in readiness, and Anne quickly lit them |

the troops were in readiness for a possible battle:

ready, at the ready, available, on hand, accessible, handy, at one's fingertips;

prepared, primed, on standby, standing by, on stand-to, on call, on full alert;

informal on tap.