The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 12 letter word PREPAREDNESS
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
P
R
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P
A
R
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D
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More clues leading to the result PREPAREDNESS
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Being ready to take action" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case being ready to take action = preparedness.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does PREPAREDNESS mean?
PREPAREDNESS noun- The state of being prepared.
- Precautionary measures in the face of potential disasters.