as in flowering
the process of becoming mature
the ripening of a pumpkin can take a whole season
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in growing
to become mature
pears ripening on the tree
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ripening
New Atlas, 22 Mar. 2026
When certain fresh foods are stored close together, ethylene can speed up the ripening—and spoilage—process.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Mar. 2026
Fortunately, a few simple storage methods can help extend their shelf life and slow the ripening process.
—Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 3 Mar. 2026
The pears, whose ripening has been slowed or stopped, create pressure on demand for California pears that begin to come into season in July.
—Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 23 Feb. 2026
Considered a classic example of an excellent season by many winemakers, 2022 had a dry winter and warm spring, which limited vine growth and resulted in small but very concentrated grapes, followed by a relatively mild autumn that allowed for ideal ripening conditions and a relaxed harvest.
—Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 17 Feb. 2026
The region’s breeze, combined with warm days and cool nights, slows the grape ripening process and allows the grapes to retain their freshness on the vine.
—Nicole Findlay, Travel + Leisure, 4 Feb. 2026
Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026
Some tricks to slow down ripening and prevent bruising include separating bananas from the bunch, hanging them from a hook, and wrapping their stems in plastic wrap to prevent the release of ethylene gas.
—Heather Riske, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Mar. 2026
Tiny fruit flies come in from outside, attracted to ripening produce on your kitchen counter, or they may be brought in on infested fruit.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 4 Mar. 2026
This slows the release of ethylene and helps delay ripening, and extends their shelf life by a few days.
—Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 3 Mar. 2026
Insects that lay eggs in the fruits are going to get a late start, so especially early ripening peaches may be insect free.
—Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Feb. 2026
However, the pears being imported from Argentina are being treated with a gas called 1-MCP, that slows ripening by blocking ethylene receptors in the fruit.
—Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 23 Feb. 2026
Avoid placing the bulbs near fruit, as ripening fruit can accelerate sprouting.
—Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 23 Feb. 2026
Forged in a sunny, warm summer with even temperatures and no excessive heat spikes, grapes benefited from even ripening and a relaxed harvest that yielded a relatively modest crop noted for concentrated, flavorful, small grapes.
—Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 17 Feb. 2026
Noun
That said, there are challenges with the fruit's uneven ripening window, shelf life and sensitivity to bruising.
—New Atlas, 22 Mar. 2026
When certain fresh foods are stored close together, ethylene can speed up the ripening—and spoilage—process.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Mar. 2026
Fortunately, a few simple storage methods can help extend their shelf life and slow the ripening process.
—Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 3 Mar. 2026
The pears, whose ripening has been slowed or stopped, create pressure on demand for California pears that begin to come into season in July.
—Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 23 Feb. 2026
Considered a classic example of an excellent season by many winemakers, 2022 had a dry winter and warm spring, which limited vine growth and resulted in small but very concentrated grapes, followed by a relatively mild autumn that allowed for ideal ripening conditions and a relaxed harvest.
—Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 17 Feb. 2026
The region’s breeze, combined with warm days and cool nights, slows the grape ripening process and allows the grapes to retain their freshness on the vine.
—Nicole Findlay, Travel + Leisure, 4 Feb. 2026
Verb
For example, serviceberries provide spring-ripening fruit, red-twig dogwoods provide summer fruit, while hawthorns and crabapples provide fruit in fall and winter.
—Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026
Some tricks to slow down ripening and prevent bruising include separating bananas from the bunch, hanging them from a hook, and wrapping their stems in plastic wrap to prevent the release of ethylene gas.
—Heather Riske, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Mar. 2026
Tiny fruit flies come in from outside, attracted to ripening produce on your kitchen counter, or they may be brought in on infested fruit.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 4 Mar. 2026
This slows the release of ethylene and helps delay ripening, and extends their shelf life by a few days.
—Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 3 Mar. 2026
Insects that lay eggs in the fruits are going to get a late start, so especially early ripening peaches may be insect free.
—Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Feb. 2026
However, the pears being imported from Argentina are being treated with a gas called 1-MCP, that slows ripening by blocking ethylene receptors in the fruit.
—Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 23 Feb. 2026
Avoid placing the bulbs near fruit, as ripening fruit can accelerate sprouting.
—Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 23 Feb. 2026
Forged in a sunny, warm summer with even temperatures and no excessive heat spikes, grapes benefited from even ripening and a relaxed harvest that yielded a relatively modest crop noted for concentrated, flavorful, small grapes.
—Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 17 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ripening
Noun
-
Will cutting bouquets to bring indoors affect the flowering of the plants?—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and pumpkins need more frequent watering during flowering and while developing fruit.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The rooms With curvaceous walls, built in fast-growing Indonesian bamboo, split-level villas with a spiral staircase that winds seashell-like between a ground-floor lounge and upstairs living quarters have the grounding feel of being wrapped in a tropical bamboo forest.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Saronic, which ranked 19th on the latest CNBC Disruptor 50 list, is among a growing crop of defense companies winning over the government with the support of venture capital.—
Samantha Subin,
CNBC,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Goodwin praised his ability to hit and is looking forward to his maturation process.—
Ryan Canfield,
FOXNews.com,
29 Mar. 2026
-
The promise of extending even 4–6 more weeks of uterine maturation is enormous, but trials must proceed with caution.—
Srishti Gupta,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
After birth, human beings undergo infant and toddler development, moving on to child development before progressing to puberty and adolescence on the way to adulthood.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The Times analysis showed that both communities were still progressing well behind the pace of Santa Rosa after the 2017 Tubbs fire, with about half as many permits issued in the Palisades as a percentage of those burned and two-thirds in Altadena in the same period.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Rookie Hugo Gonzalez did not enter until garbage time for the second straight game — a notable development as Mazzulla works to finalize his playoff rotation.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Her development will be key to improving Missouri’s depth next season.—
Aaron Segal,
Kansas City Star,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The critical aid for Cuba comes as the nation has taken a severe economic hit since the US effectively blocked its oil supply earlier this year, depriving its aging electricity network of its main source of fuel.—
Uriel Blanco,
CNN Money,
28 Mar. 2026
-
In Joachim Trier's touching drama (which won the best international feature Oscar), Stellan Skarsgård stars as an aging filmmaker making a comeback movie inspired by his family.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Furthermore, this is also signaling continued progress toward maturing hybrid propulsion technologies for tactical use, the South China Morning Post reports.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Building owners with a maturing loan typically refinance into a new loan or sell the building to pay off the original loan.—
Thomas Gounley,
Denver Post,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Weather conditions will be favorable for rapid fire growth.—
Joe Ruch,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Its population was not quite 6,000 in 2010, was around 11,500 in 2020 and now is nearly 22,000, growth that caused schools to burst at the seams.—
Noah Daly,
Idaho Statesman,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ripening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ripening. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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