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
Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 27 Sep. 2025
Other names — which make more sense to parts of the country and the world that don’t have sturgeon fish — include harvest moon, moon of the ripening, grain moon, green corn moon, black cherries moon and plum moon.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2025
Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 29 Sep. 2025
After months of bilateral talks between the two countries, the moment was ripening for a provisional peace accord.
—Thomas De Waal, Foreign Affairs, 22 Sep. 2025
To grow plumeria from seed, 9-10 months may elapse between pods ripening and splitting open, a process that will only happen if pods are left on the plant throughout this period.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 20 Sep. 2025
Nature is rife with naturally occurring ethanol, particularly from ripening fruit, and that fruit in turn is consumed by various microorganisms and animal species.
—ArsTechnica, 18 Sep. 2025
Apples won't continue ripening after they're harvested.
—Miranda Crowell, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Aug. 2025
Conditions are ripening for such unconventional thoughts.
—Hussein Agha, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025
Leafy cherry trees, the fruit all gone, gobbled up by us and by the birds, and trees with ripening white and flat peaches.
—Literary Hub, 15 Aug. 2025
The 2021 growing season was cooler than average with maturation and ripening less harried than usual.
—Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 12 Dec. 2024
Noun
However, all familiar fig varieties are parthenocarpic, meaning that the female syconia develop into tasty fruit without the benefit of pollination so male syconia are not needed for their maturation and ripening.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 27 Sep. 2025
Other names — which make more sense to parts of the country and the world that don’t have sturgeon fish — include harvest moon, moon of the ripening, grain moon, green corn moon, black cherries moon and plum moon.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2025
Verb
An overripe berry can accelerate ripening in the fruit it is being stored with.
—Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 29 Sep. 2025
After months of bilateral talks between the two countries, the moment was ripening for a provisional peace accord.
—Thomas De Waal, Foreign Affairs, 22 Sep. 2025
To grow plumeria from seed, 9-10 months may elapse between pods ripening and splitting open, a process that will only happen if pods are left on the plant throughout this period.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 20 Sep. 2025
Nature is rife with naturally occurring ethanol, particularly from ripening fruit, and that fruit in turn is consumed by various microorganisms and animal species.
—ArsTechnica, 18 Sep. 2025
Apples won't continue ripening after they're harvested.
—Miranda Crowell, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Aug. 2025
Conditions are ripening for such unconventional thoughts.
—Hussein Agha, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025
Leafy cherry trees, the fruit all gone, gobbled up by us and by the birds, and trees with ripening white and flat peaches.
—Literary Hub, 15 Aug. 2025
The 2021 growing season was cooler than average with maturation and ripening less harried than usual.
—Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 12 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ripening
Noun
-
Finally, too much nitrogen fertilizer can encourage shoot and leaf development at the expense of flowering.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Since then, the prospects for young biographers have improved substantially, and a trio of books published this fall is evidence of the genre’s new flowering.—
Megan Marshall
September 25,
Literary Hub,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The latest incidents also highlight how ill-prepared the bloc is amid the growing importance of drones in today’s warfare.—
Silvia Amaro,
CNBC,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Despite the growing frustration surrounding the play, Payton remains steadfast in his belief that the play should not be outlawed.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The comedic cross-country car film, which rescued the reputation of the envelope-pushing company after back-to-back duds National Lampoon's Movie Madness and National Lampoon's Class Reunion, represented a kind of maturation for the brand.—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Sep. 2025
-
However, all familiar fig varieties are parthenocarpic, meaning that the female syconia develop into tasty fruit without the benefit of pollination so male syconia are not needed for their maturation and ripening.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Angel Gomes only made 10 senior appearances and three starts for Manchester United, after joining them aged six and progressing through the ranks to captain their under-21s side.—
Liam Tharme,
New York Times,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Palestinians in Gaza, meanwhile, were still trying to find safety as talks were progressing.—
Richard Hall,
Time,
5 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
While the development of McCarthy is important to the Vikings this season, Wentz probably gives Minnesota the best chance to move the ball against a stout Browns defense.—
Jordan Sigler,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Oct. 2025
-
But those who depend on the status to live and work in the United States decried the development.—
Syra Ortiz Blanes,
Miami Herald,
4 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
But there were a handful of plays that really showed the breadth of his ability and his growth as a quarterback.—
Nicki Jhabvala,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
-
While local residents hope a new plant could bring economic growth, unanswered questions about use of the additional land are making some uneasy.—
Miranda Dunlap,
jsonline.com,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Others are digging the W’s faster pace and perimeter evolution.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Looking ahead, Ralph Lauren has signaled that such work is an ongoing evolution, sharing plans to detail the next chapter of its Timeless by Design strategy in early 2026—built on the progress and strategic recalibrations outlined in this year’s report.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Sourcing Journal,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ripening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ripening. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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