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

In the South, nothing says the early days of summer quite like bushels of strawberries ripening in the fields and farmers' markets waiting to be turned into strawberry shortcake. —Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 16 Dec. 2025

Peach trees are known to produce so much fruit that branches break under the weight of ripening peaches. —Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Dec. 2025

Hailing from a near-perfect season that allowed for extended, even ripening that produced grapes with exceptional concentration, aromatics, and structural balance, Ipsus 2021 was fermented in small lots, with each block vinified separately. —Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 14 Dec. 2025

And Sundowners ripen in October/November, which is after summer’s fruit is done, and before winter citrus. —Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Dec. 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