# Definition of Ready Meaning in English: Examples (2026)

> A set of agreed criteria that a user story or task must meet before the team starts working on it.

- **Term:** definition of ready
- **Part of speech:** phrase
- **Pronunciation:** /ˌdefɪˈnɪʃən əv ˈredi/
- **English level (CEFR):** B2
- **Register:** Neutral, Both
- **Region:** US and UK
- **Topic:** [Agile and project terms](https://app.speaktechenglish.com/learn/topics/agile-project-management-terms.md)
- **Lesson:** https://app.speaktechenglish.com/learn/definition-of-ready
- **Last updated:** 2026-10-27

## Meaning

A set of agreed criteria that a user story or task must meet before the team starts working on it. It ensures everyone understands what needs to be done before development begins.

Definition of Ready (DoR) is a checklist used in Agile and Scrum teams to determine whether a work item is prepared for development. This is distinct from Definition of Done, which describes the completion criteria. A story or task is considered ready when it has clear requirements, acceptance criteria, necessary design assets, and dependencies are identified. In real tech workplaces, teams establish their own DoR during sprint planning or backlog refinement meetings. Common criteria include: the story has a clear business value, acceptance criteria are written, technical requirements are understood, dependencies are documented, and the product owner is available for questions. Without a strong DoR, teams often waste time clarifying vague requirements mid-sprint, which reduces productivity. Using DoR prevents the common problem where developers start coding before understanding what is actually needed, leading to rework and delays. It shifts quality control to the beginning of the development cycle rather than the end.

## When you hear it

Before we pull this story into the sprint, we need to verify it meets our definition of ready.

## Examples

- **in a backlog refinement meeting:** "Before we move this ticket into the next sprint, let's check it against our definition of ready."
- **in a standup:** "This feature didn't meet our definition of ready, so we sent it back to the product owner for clarification."
- **in a sprint planning session:** "All stories in today's planning have satisfied the definition of ready, so we can commit to them confidently."

## What native speakers say

- "Does this story meet our definition of ready?"
- "We can't start development until it passes the definition of ready"
- "The definition of ready includes acceptance criteria and wireframes"

## Common mistakes

- ✗ "We finished the definition of ready for this task." → ✓ "This task meets our definition of ready." (DoR is a checklist or criteria, not something you complete; you verify that work meets it.)
- ✗ "The definition of ready is about when the work is done." → ✓ "The definition of ready is about when the work is ready to start." (DoR applies at the beginning; Definition of Done applies at the end of development.)
- ✗ "We do not need a definition of ready if we have a definition of done." → ✓ "We need both definition of ready and definition of done for a complete process." (These serve different purposes: DoR prepares work before it starts, DoD confirms it is finished.)

## Be careful

Often confused with definition of done; DoR applies before work starts, DoD applies after it is completed.

## Word forms

| Part of speech | Word | Example |
| --- | --- | --- |
| noun | definition of ready | Our team created a definition of ready that all stories must satisfy. |
| phrase | meets the definition of ready | This user story meets the definition of ready and can be picked up by developers. |
| phrase | definition of ready criteria | The definition of ready criteria require acceptance tests to be written first. |


## Collocations

- **meet the definition of ready**: Used to indicate a work item satisfies all DoR criteria
- **satisfy the definition of ready**: Similar meaning; to fulfill or comply with DoR requirements
- **definition of ready checklist**: The actual list of criteria used to evaluate readiness
- **definition of ready criteria**: The individual requirements that make up the DoR
- **establish a definition of ready**: To create or agree upon DoR standards for a team

## Synonyms

- **acceptance criteria**: Defines what the finished work should do; DoR is broader and includes preparedness before work starts
- **readiness checklist**: A general term for any list checking if something is ready; DoR is specifically for Agile work items
- **story readiness**: Less formal term for the same concept; often used informally in conversations

## Opposites

- definition of done
- work in progress
- unrefined backlog

## Practice

This lesson has 4 practice exercises with instant feedback on the page: https://app.speaktechenglish.com/learn/definition-of-ready

## FAQ

### What is the difference between definition of ready and definition of done?

Definition of Ready (DoR) is a checklist applied before work begins to ensure the story is clear and ready for development. Definition of Done (DoD) is applied after work is completed to confirm it meets quality standards. DoR is entry criteria; DoD is exit criteria.

### What should be included in a definition of ready?

Common items include: clear user story with business value, acceptance criteria written, technical requirements understood, design assets or wireframes available, dependencies identified, and product owner available for questions. Teams customize their DoR based on their needs.

### How is definition of ready used in a sprint?

During backlog refinement or sprint planning, the team reviews upcoming stories and verifies they meet the definition of ready before committing to them in the sprint. Stories that do not meet DoR are sent back to the product owner for clarification.

### Is definition of ready only for Agile teams?

While it is most common in Agile and Scrum teams, the concept of establishing readiness criteria before starting work can be applied to any development process.


## Related

- [user story](https://app.speaktechenglish.com/learn/user-story.md)
- [acceptance criteria](https://app.speaktechenglish.com/learn/acceptance-criteria.md)
- [backlog refinement](https://app.speaktechenglish.com/learn/backlog-refinement.md)
- Full glossary: https://app.speaktechenglish.com/learn.md
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