ripen

verb

rip·​en ˈrī-pən 

ˈrī-pᵊm

ripened; ripening ˈrī-pə-niŋ 

ˈrīp-niŋ

intransitive verb

: to grow or become ripe

fruits ripening on the tree

transitive verb

1

: to make ripe

You can ripen fruit faster by putting it in a paper bag.

2

a

: to bring to completeness or perfection

… the progress of time would rather increase and ripen their prosperity …

—Nathaniel Hawthorne

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 of ripen

• 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

The Best Way To Store Fresh Tomatoes For those tomatoes that need a little time ripening, leave them on the counter. — Jessica Farthing, Southern Living, 21 Aug. 2026

This summer’s record temperatures compressed the ripening period even further. — ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026

Heat speeds grape ripening Gobillard has seen the shift unfold across generations of his family. — Sylvie Corbet, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2026

Nebbiolo is best known as the grape behind Barolo and Barbaresco, but this wine’s grapes, grown on an organic parcel in Clarksburg, ripen entirely differently than on the foggy hillsides of Piedmont. — Anne Ewbank, Sacbee.com, 19 Aug. 2026

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