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

Rayburn recommends using bird netting to protect strawberry containers when the fruit starts to ripen. —Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 18 June 2026

While Albariño typically ripens earlier, Caíño Blanco often reaches maturity toward the end of September when temperatures are cooler and daylight hours shorter. —Emily Price, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026

The handcrafted Baked Collection features intense pigments whipped into a decadent cream, then baked on terracotta tiles into a powder to ripen color vibrancy -- a feast for eyes, cheeks, lips, and face in vibrant, weightless colors with all-day wear. —ABC News, 16 June 2026

If there's no scent at all, leave it to ripen longer. —Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 15 June 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