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

By late summer, apples and grapes ripen, and hops are harvested through mid-September. — Mike Norton, Midwest Living, 26 Sep. 2026

To ripen a mango more quickly, keep it in a paper bag for a day or two. — Vanessa Caceres, Verywell Health, 23 Sep. 2026

For the same reason, remove any bananas that are ripening from the remaining bunch to slow down the process. — Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 20 Sep. 2026

Figs, unlike bananas, avocados and many stone fruits, do not keep ripening after they’ve been picked. — Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 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