I'm done means “I've finished”. People say it about a task that's complete: they've eaten, finished writing, finished with the printer. The second meaning is “I've had enough”: I'm done with him means you don't want anything more to do with him, and I'm done! after a long argument means you can't take any more.
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I'm done.; I'm done with + task/thing; I'm done with + person; I'm done + -ing; Are you done?
- I'm done with the dishes — do you want to watch something now?
- Are you done with the printer? I need to print my boarding pass.
- I'm done arguing about this. Let's talk tomorrow when we're both calmer.
What changed
First version— How's your essay going? — I'm ready, I've just sent it to my teacher.
Revision— How's your essay going? — I'm done, I've just sent it to my teacher.
When a job is finished, I'm ready can seem like the natural thing to say. But ready looks forward: the person is ready to start, leave or go. About a finished task, people say I'm done. Ready was replaced with done.
I'm finished also means “I've finished”, but in conversation it has a darker second meaning, “I'm in serious trouble”: If my boss sees this mistake, I'm finished. I'm done doesn't have that meaning, but it does have “I've had enough”.
Your turn
— Have you finished the crossword? — Yes, I'm ___, you can have the pen.
Show the answer
done — The person is asked whether they've finished, and they answer that they have: done. Ready means “prepared to start or go” and doesn't answer a question about a finished task.
Write to a colleague that you've finished your part of a shared document. Say which part you've completed and what they can do next.
I'm done with the budget section, so you can start checking the figures now.
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