Definition of ripe
- ripe fruit
- ripe wheat
- a ripe old age
- the time was ripe for the attempt
- the colonies were ripe for revolution
- a ripe figure
- ripe language
The apples are nearly ripe.
the clothes of the field hands were sweaty and ripe after a hard day's work
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ripe.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use: before 12th century
in the meaning defined at sense 1
See Words from the same yearfetid, foul, funky, fusty, malodorous, musty, noisome, rank, reeking, reeky, smelly, stinking, stinky, strong;
putrid, rancid, skunky, stale;
bad, disgusting, offensive, repulsive, revolting, vile;
decayed, decaying, decomposed, decomposing, rotted, rotten, rotting, spoiled, spoiling;
of fruits and vegetables : fully grown and developed and ready to be eaten
: ready or suitable for something
of food and especially cheese : brought to full flavor or the best state by being stored for a period of time
See words that rhyme with ripe Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for ripe Spanish Central: Translation of ripe Nglish: Translation of ripe for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of ripe for Arabic speakers
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