1,400 new words in our dictionary! — Parasocial, glow-up, promposal & more
1,400 new words in our dictionary! — More

ripen

verb

ˈrī-pən How to pronounce ripen (audio)
Definition of ripennext
as in to grow
to become mature pears ripening on the tree

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ripen Beyond these plant perks, the warm, sunny days of autumn give fruit and veggies plenty of time to ripen and develop their flavors. — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Aug. 2026 This summer’s record temperatures compressed the ripening period even further. — ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026 Heat speeds grape ripening Gobillard has seen the shift unfold across generations of his family. — Sylvie Corbet, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2026 Nebbiolo is best known as the grape behind Barolo and Barbaresco, but this wine’s grapes, grown on an organic parcel in Clarksburg, ripen entirely differently than on the foggy hillsides of Piedmont. — Anne Ewbank, Sacbee.com, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ripen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ripen
  1. grow
  2. progress
Verb
  • The platform decides which content receives additional exposure, and that exposure can influence who discovers a creator and whether the creator’s audience grows.
    — Sergi Cerrato, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Out of that conversation grew my novel The Undead, which is, in some ways, a parting love letter to Moscow.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of grow
Verb
  • But in comparison with that movie’s central character, Arash grows less single-minded as his daylong journey progresses.
    — Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Melatonin remained substantially lower during the blue-light condition, whereas participants exposed to red light experienced a stronger increase in melatonin as the evening progressed.
    — Ascend Agency, New York Daily News, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of progress

Browse Nearby Words

ripe
ripen
ripened
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ripen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ripen. Accessed 15 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of quorum

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
funny guinea pig in glasses reading a book
Challenging Words You Should Know Vol 2 Words to the wise
See All