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 fruit ripens reliably, which leads to wines that feel generous and fruit driven without being jammy. —Emily Price, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026

By later in March, expect a gentle rain of goodness to begin to fall in your life, ripening seeds of love, family growth, fame and clarity. —Magi Helena, Dallas Morning News, 17 Jan. 2026

Even melons that won't ripen or grow sweeter at room temperature, like honeydew, do become softer and juicier. —Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 16 Jan. 2026

Auto CrispSeal crisper drawer Fruits and vegetables can and will ripen or rot more quickly in certain humidities. —Bestreviews, Mercury News, 16 Jan. 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