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

Once bananas ripen, that starch converts to sugar, reducing those benefits. —Dr. Steven Gundry, CNBC, 21 Nov. 2025

The open wire design helps ripen fruit while the nifty banana hanger keeps them from bruising. —Clint Davis, PEOPLE, 21 Nov. 2025

Apples ripen, pumpkins dot the fields, and leaves flush every shade of red, orange, and yellow. —Anna Laird Barto, Travel + Leisure, 17 Nov. 2025

Thinning out branches will prevent leaves from shading fruit, which may not ripen fully if there’s not enough sun. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 16 Nov. 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