ready-to-go
UK[ˌredi tə ˈɡəʊ]US[ˌredi tə ˈɡoʊ]
adj
Completely prepared or available for immediate use or action.
adj
(of food) Prepared in advance so that it can be eaten immediately.
Morpheme Breakdown
ready
to
go
ready
prepared
to
function word
go
move/act
Etymology
The compound "ready-to-go" is a modern English formation built from three native Germanic elements. "Ready" carries the core meaning of preparedness, a concept traceable to Proto-Germanic ga-rēdaz, implying a state of being arranged or prepared. The infinitive marker "to" and the verb "go" combine to create a purposive sense, literally "prepared in order to go or act." This phrase lexicalized in the 20th century, particularly in commercial and culinary contexts, to describe products or items requiring no further preparation, perfectly capturing the efficiency-driven modern ethos where immediacy is valued. The logic is transparent: something that is "ready to go" is in a state of complete preparation for immediate deployment or consumption.
Analysis
Structure: ready (prepared) + to (function word) + go (move/act)
ready: From Old English rǣde (prepared, prompt), of Germanic origin.
to: From Old English tō, a preposition and infinitive marker.
go: From Old English gān, of Germanic origin.
Examples
The company offers a range of ready-to-go meals for busy professionals.
We've packed the equipment, so the kit is ready-to-go for the field trip.
After the briefing, the emergency team was ready-to-go within minutes.