ripe

adjective

ˈrīp 

riper; ripest

1

: fully grown and developed : mature

ripe fruit

ripe wheat

2

: having mature knowledge, understanding, or judgment

3

: of advanced years : late

a ripe old age

4

a

: suitable, appropriate

the time was ripe for the attempt

b

: fully prepared : ready

the colonies were ripe for revolution

5

a

: brought by aging to full flavor or the best state : mellow

ripe cheese

b

: smelly, stinking

6

: ruddy, plump, or full like ripened fruit

a ripe figure

7

: indecent

ripe language

ripely adverb

ripeness noun

Synonyms

• adult
• full-blown
• full-fledged
• mature
• matured
• ripened

Examples of ripe in a Sentence

The apples are nearly ripe.

the clothes of the field hands were sweaty and ripe after a hard day's work

Recent Examples on the Web

More can be done to improve Bunker Hill, Gehry said, and the streets near Grand Avenue that are thick with parking lots are now ripe for development. —Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024

While the rooms are so bright and comfortable guests may be tempted not to leave the property, the hotel’s neighborhood is ripe for exploring. —Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 11 Apr. 2024

In fact, it’s being sold as a way to help people climb out of poverty: For companies like Sama, the conditions here were ripe for investment by 2015, when the firm established a business presence in Nairobi. —Seyward Darby, Longreads, 9 Apr. 2024

Warren Zanes’ wonderful telling of this chapter in Bruce’s life is ripe for cinematic adaptation. —Katcy Stephan, Variety, 8 Apr. 2024

Rockabilly, punk, riot grrrl, new wave, glam rock – a cornucopia of styles and eras ripe for Beyoncé’s take. —Rolling Stone, 2 Apr. 2024

Year-to-date, the momentum factor has dramatically outperformed, which may leave it ripe for a correction. —Michael Cannivet, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024

But for climber Alex Honnold, some such places, found in the harshest and most unforgiving of environments, still exist and are ripe for adventure. —Amy Woodyatt, CNN, 25 Mar. 2024

Berries: Change up the flavor of the salad by replacing all or part of the strawberries with raspberries, blackberries, orange segments, grapes, peaches, or other ripe fruits. —Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 25 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English rīpe; akin to Old English rīpan, reopan to reap

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing ripe

• ripe for abuse
• ripe old age
• ripe with

Kids Definition

ripe

adjective

ˈrīp 

riper; ripest

1

: fully grown and developed

a ripe tomato

2

: having mature knowledge, understanding, or judgment

3

: ready entry 1 sense 1

ripe for action

4

: brought to just the right state

ripely adverb

ripeness noun

Legal Definition

ripe

adjective

1

: of, relating to, or being a claim for relief that is ready for judicial resolution because the injury is certain to occur and is not merely hypothetical or speculative compare moot

2

: ready and appropriate for disclosure because reasonably determined to be valid and not required to be kept secret for business reasons

—used of corporate information

ripeness noun