ripe

1 of 2

adjective

ˈrīp 

riper; ripest

1

: fully grown and developed : mature

ripe fruit

ripe wheat

2

: having mature knowledge, understanding, or judgment

3

: of advanced years : late

a ripe old age

4

a

: suitable, appropriate

The time was ripe for the attempt.

b

: fully prepared : ready

The colonies were ripe for revolution.

a system that was ripe for abuse

specifically, of a legal action : ready for judicial resolution because the injury is certain and not hypothetical

5

a

: brought by aging to full flavor or the best state : mellow

ripe cheese

b

: smelly, stinking

Those old sneakers are pretty ripe.

6

: ruddy, plump, or full like ripened fruit

a ripe figure

7

: indecent

ripe language

ripely adverb

ripeness noun

ripeness

2 of 2

noun

ripe·​ness

ˈrīpnə̇s

plural -es

: the quality or state of being ripe : maturity, completeness, perfection

Synonyms of ripe

Adjective

• matured
• mature

Examples of ripe in a Sentence

Adjective

The apples are nearly ripe.

the clothes of the field hands were sweaty and ripe after a hard day's work

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

But in the brave heart of this fictional protagonist, there lurks a righteous threshing machine, ripe for a Great Rebellion in writer-director Paul Greengrass’ latest feature. — Michael Phillips, Variety, 9 Sep. 2026

However, the 700-acre grounds are ripe for quite a bit of further development. — Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 9 Sep. 2026

Founded by Rachel Iwaniec, who got her start at Khaite before launching her own wholesale agency a little more than five years ago, RIC boasts a roster of emerging labels ripe for discovery. — Talia Abbas, Vogue, 8 Sep. 2026

Sitting more than 50% off from its July 2025 highs, RBC Capital Markets thinks Shake Shack may be at an inflection point and ripe for a turnaround in its stock. — Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 8 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Old English rīpe; akin to Old English rīpan, reopan to reap

Noun

Middle English ripenes, from Old English rīpnes, from rīpe ripe + -nes -ness

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing ripe

• ripe for abuse
• ripe old age
• ripe with

Rhymes for ripe

• gripe
• hype
• lipe
• pipe
• sipe
• skype
• snipe
• stipe
• stripe
• strype
• swipe
• tripe

Kids Definition

ripe

adjective

ˈrīp 

riper; ripest

1

: fully grown and developed

a ripe tomato

2

: having mature knowledge, understanding, or judgment

3

: ready entry 1 sense 1

ripe for action

4

: brought to just the right state

ripely adverb

ripeness noun

Legal Definition

ripe

adjective

1

: of, relating to, or being a claim for relief that is ready for judicial resolution because the injury is certain to occur and is not merely hypothetical or speculative compare moot

2

: ready and appropriate for disclosure because reasonably determined to be valid and not required to be kept secret for business reasons

—used of corporate information

ripeness noun