ripen

verb

rip·​en ˈrī-pən 

ˈrī-pᵊm

ripened; ripening ˈrī-pə-niŋ 

ˈrīp-niŋ

intransitive verb

: to grow or become ripe

transitive verb

1

: to make ripe

2

a

: to bring to completeness or perfection

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

• 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

Tomatoes continue to ripen after they are picked as long as they are kept at room temperature. —Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 9 July 2025

There is a lot of angst over cream cheese frosting and some clever questions from our wonderful listeners, including a surprising technique to ripen bananas super fast. —Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 July 2025

The wider the space between the stripes, the more likely the watermelon has had enough time to ripen and develop a juicy flavor. —Brittany Poulson, Verywell Health, 2 July 2025

As Artaserse, Kim’s performance took some time to ripen on Friday, his voice sometimes vanishingly slender and lagging behind the orchestra in his first aria to Semira. —Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 28 June 2025

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