ripen

verb

rip·​en ˈrī-pən 

ˈrī-pᵊm

ripened; ripening ˈrī-pə-niŋ 

ˈrīp-niŋ

intransitive verb

: to grow or become ripe

fruits ripening on the tree

transitive verb

1

: to make ripe

You can ripen fruit faster by putting it in a paper bag.

2

a

: to bring to completeness or perfection

… the progress of time would rather increase and ripen their prosperity …

—Nathaniel Hawthorne

b

: to age or cure (cheese) to develop characteristic flavor, odor, body, texture, and color

c

: to improve flavor and tenderness of (beef or game) by aging under refrigeration

ripener

ˈrī-pə-nər 

ˈrīp-nər

noun

Synonyms of ripen

• grow
• progress

Examples of ripen in a Sentence

The tomatoes finished ripening on the windowsill.

You can ripen the fruit by placing it in a paper bag and storing it at room temperature for a few days.

Recent Examples on the Web

Wegmans even needed special permission from regulators to ripen cheeses at those specific temperatures, Gaffney said. — Charlotte Observer, 2 Nov. 2026

After waiting all year for the fruit to ripen, a mature tree will offer its bounty all at once, leaving you to reap the harvest. — Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 31 Oct. 2026

Spend the fall and winter watching fruit ripen for your table. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 30 Oct. 2026

Pawpaws, the continent’s largest edible native fruit, ripen in late summer and early fall, delivering a near-tropical blend of mango and banana to the tongue. — Tovar Cerulli, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Kids Definition

ripen

verb

rip·​en ˈrī-pən 

ripened; ripening ˈrīp-(ə-)niŋ 

: to make or become ripe