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

• age
• develop
• grow
• grow up
• mature
• 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

While this gentle method helps preserve the texture and flavor of the avocado, make sure to rotate them occasionally to keep them from ripening unevenly. —Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 23 May 2025

The method ensures uniform fruit size, taste and ripening time, essential for a global export market that demands consistency. —Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025

And there are many things to be enthusiastic about, like the way cabbage grows so beautifully or the ripening fullness of tomatillos destined to become salsa. —Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 8 Mar. 2025

The effects of climate change have caused earlier ripening in Burgundy, so although these bottles may reach their peak sooner than previous vintages might have, Barzelay doesn’t expect any loss of concentration, depth or finesse. —Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 27 Jan. 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