ready to wait

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ready to wait" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express a willingness or preparedness to wait for something or someone. Example: "I am ready to wait for the next bus, even if it takes a while to arrive."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

— not ready to wait".

The New York Times

If he did not make his mind up I was ready to wait.

The Guardian - Sport

But Bishop Ramirez is ready to wait out the owner if necessary.

The New York Times

The photographers stood at the windows, ready to wait out the entire meal.

The New Yorker

He's ready to wait for precisely the right word, watching other people to be sure they understand him.

Independent

But the youthful Mr Rutelli is probably ready to wait for 2006.Who stands to benefit from all this?

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

21 human-written examples

When you're ready to stop, wait until the yo yo is out in front of you, then jerk it back towards your body and catch it.

WikiHow

To avoid people coming before you're ready to open, wait to put up signs around the neighborhood until you have everything out and you're ready to sell.

WikiHow

Jen and I rushed into the water, only half ready but unwilling to wait.

The New York Times - Travel

While my son would have been ready, I decided to wait.

HuffPost

Plus, we're ready to stop waiting for "the first female" anything.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ready to wait" when you want to express a proactive acceptance of a delay, emphasizing that the subject is mentally and emotionally prepared for the wait. For instance, "Despite the long queue, I was "ready to wait" because I knew the product was worth it."

Common error

Don't use "waiting patiently" as a direct replacement for "ready to wait". "Ready to wait" implies a prior decision and acceptance of the situation, while "waiting patiently" simply describes the act of waiting without necessarily indicating prior preparedness. For example, instead of saying "I was waiting patiently for the bus", consider "I was "ready to wait" for the bus" to convey you had already accepted the potential delay.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ready to wait" functions primarily as a predicate adjective followed by an infinitive. It describes the subject's state of being in terms of their preparedness or willingness to postpone action. Ludwig examples illustrate how it modifies subjects ranging from people to organizations.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "ready to wait" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to convey a state of preparedness and willingness to delay action. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability in written English. It's most frequently found in news and media contexts but also appears in wikis and business communications. While alternatives like "prepared to wait" and "willing to wait" exist, "ready to wait" specifically implies acceptance and mental preparedness for a delay. It's crucial not to confuse it with simply "waiting patiently", as the former suggests a prior conscious decision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prepared to wait

Uses "prepared" instead of "ready", indicating a similar state of being in anticipation.

willing to wait

Emphasizes the willingness or consent to wait, rather than simply being prepared.

happy to wait

Indicates a positive sentiment towards waiting, suggesting contentment with the delay.

content to wait

Suggests satisfaction with the prospect of waiting; implies patience.

patient enough to wait

Highlights the level of patience required to endure a waiting period.

resigned to waiting

Implies acceptance of the necessity to wait, often with a sense of inevitability.

prepared to bide one's time

More idiomatic; indicates a willingness to wait for an opportune moment.

ready to hold off

Suggests delaying an action, which may or may not involve waiting.

ready to delay

Focuses on the act of postponing rather than the state of being ready.

not in a hurry

Indicates the absence of urgency, making waiting more acceptable.

FAQs

What does "ready to wait" mean?

The phrase "ready to wait" means that someone is prepared and willing to delay taking action or receiving something, often due to circumstances beyond their control. It suggests acceptance and patience in the face of a potential delay.

What can I say instead of "ready to wait"?

You can use alternatives like "prepared to wait", "willing to wait", or "happy to wait" depending on the context and desired nuance.

Is it correct to say "I'm ready for wait"?

No, it's not grammatically correct. The correct phrasing is "I'm "ready to wait", where "wait" is used as an infinitive. Alternatively, you could say "I'm ready for a wait", but this implies you are prepared for a specific waiting period rather than the act of waiting itself.

How does "ready to wait" differ from "waiting patiently"?

"Ready to wait" implies a prior acceptance and preparedness for a delay, while "waiting patiently" simply describes the act of waiting without necessarily indicating prior acceptance. One suggests a conscious decision, while the other describes a behavior. You are "waiting patiently" for the bus, while you are "ready to wait" for the delivery.