ripened; ripening
ˈrī-pə-niŋ 
ˈrīp-niŋ
: to grow or become ripe
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
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
Warmer temperatures have enabled better ripening of Britain’s grapes and therefore, better qualities of wine.
—
Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 12 Nov. 2023
As summer winds down in the verdant olive groves across southern Spain’s region of Andalusia, the tree branches typically bend down, heavy with ripening fruits.
—Alessio Perrone, Scientific American, 31 Aug. 2023
Ethylene is a natural plant hormone that triggers produce to ripen faster.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Nov. 2023
Artists failed spectacularly to sow the seeds of compassion, to nurture fragile blooms of culture and the fruit of ethical awareness never had a chance to ripen.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 2 Nov. 2023
This cheese will not be hitting supermarket shelves any time soon; much like actual cheese, the science needs some time to ripen.
—Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 14 Oct. 2023
With a La Niña year in 2022, there were cooler temperatures and no aggressive heat waves, thus Oliver’s Taranga’s vineyards experienced a long, slow ripening that Wright was excited about.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 11 Oct. 2023
Be aware that bananas can cause nearby fruits to ripen quicker, so organize them accordingly.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 18 Sep. 2023
These lower, older leaves are less photosynthetically active, and their removal will not delay ripening as much.
—oregonlive, 3 Sep. 2023
See More
Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 12 Nov. 2023
As summer winds down in the verdant olive groves across southern Spain’s region of Andalusia, the tree branches typically bend down, heavy with ripening fruits.
—Alessio Perrone, Scientific American, 31 Aug. 2023
Ethylene is a natural plant hormone that triggers produce to ripen faster.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Nov. 2023
Artists failed spectacularly to sow the seeds of compassion, to nurture fragile blooms of culture and the fruit of ethical awareness never had a chance to ripen.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 2 Nov. 2023
This cheese will not be hitting supermarket shelves any time soon; much like actual cheese, the science needs some time to ripen.
—Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 14 Oct. 2023
With a La Niña year in 2022, there were cooler temperatures and no aggressive heat waves, thus Oliver’s Taranga’s vineyards experienced a long, slow ripening that Wright was excited about.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 11 Oct. 2023
Be aware that bananas can cause nearby fruits to ripen quicker, so organize them accordingly.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 18 Sep. 2023
These lower, older leaves are less photosynthetically active, and their removal will not delay ripening as much.
—oregonlive, 3 Sep. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ripen.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense
Time Traveler
The first known use of ripen was
in the 15th century
Articles Related to ripen
Dictionary Entries Near ripen
Cite this Entry
“Ripen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ripen. Accessed 5 Dec. 2023.
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More from Merriam-Webster on ripen
Nglish: Translation of ripen for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of ripen for Arabic Speakers
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