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
Heather Riske, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Apr. 2026
The flavor can change and any further ripening is halted in its tracks.
—Jessica Farthing, Southern Living, 10 Apr. 2026
That said, there are challenges with the fruit's uneven ripening window, shelf life and sensitivity to bruising.
—New Atlas, 22 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
Literary Hub, 23 Apr. 2026
Small, white flowers bloom from late winter to early spring, with fruit ripening in the fall on mature trees.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 22 Apr. 2026
Determinate tomato varieties, such as ‘Celebrity,’ ‘San Marzano Nano,’ ‘Amish Paste,’ and ‘Marglobe’ (among others), have a short harvest season with fruit ripening all at once.
—Cori Sears, The Spruce, 18 Apr. 2026
Vines have traditionally been planted on the steep slopes of the riverbanks because of excellent drainage, and grapes are exposed to the maximum amount of sun for ripening in this cooler climate region.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 17 Apr. 2026
Refrigeration stops ripening cold.
—Judy Bart Kancigor, Oc Register, 9 Apr. 2026
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
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
Noun
Avoid storing cauliflower next to produce that produce ethylene gas (such as apples, melons, peaches, plums, pears, or mangoes), which will speed up the ripening (and eventual rotting) process.
—Heather Riske, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Apr. 2026
The flavor can change and any further ripening is halted in its tracks.
—Jessica Farthing, Southern Living, 10 Apr. 2026
That said, there are challenges with the fruit's uneven ripening window, shelf life and sensitivity to bruising.
—New Atlas, 22 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
Fruits are ripening and the birds are overhead migrating day and night, guided by the sun and stars on their mind-boggling journeys.
—Literary Hub, 23 Apr. 2026
Small, white flowers bloom from late winter to early spring, with fruit ripening in the fall on mature trees.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 22 Apr. 2026
Determinate tomato varieties, such as ‘Celebrity,’ ‘San Marzano Nano,’ ‘Amish Paste,’ and ‘Marglobe’ (among others), have a short harvest season with fruit ripening all at once.
—Cori Sears, The Spruce, 18 Apr. 2026
Vines have traditionally been planted on the steep slopes of the riverbanks because of excellent drainage, and grapes are exposed to the maximum amount of sun for ripening in this cooler climate region.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 17 Apr. 2026
Refrigeration stops ripening cold.
—Judy Bart Kancigor, Oc Register, 9 Apr. 2026
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ripening
Noun
-
Fertilizing can reduce flowering and make the plants flop.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Plant in full sun for best flowering.—
Barbara Gillette,
The Spruce,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Looking to the future of technology, state lawmakers granted final legislative approval on a key bill regulating artificial intelligence in an attempt to protect children and consumers without stifling one of the nation’s fastest-growing industries.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
4 May 2026
-
Bessent has compared the Fed's growing balance sheet to a dangerous lab experiment.—
Steve Liesman,Matt Peterson,
CNBC,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
Altogether, the maturation of WNBA front offices has turned them into a competitive place for career development within the sports industry.—
Sara Germano,
Sportico.com,
8 May 2026
-
What otherwise might be viewed as an aspect of maturation or the spirit moving him also happens to be unfurling early in a season in which the Royals had stressed the need for their young-ish core to seize control of the team.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
The league began the onboarding process for replacement officials last month because negotiations weren’t progressing.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 May 2026
-
The third-year guard suffered a Grade 2 quad strain last week and was progressing well, having been upgraded to day-to-day on Tuesday.—
Nathan Canilao,
Mercury News,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
In selecting Norwich, a city centrally located in the eastern part of the state, the team has found a home stadium that looks much different than the large-scale plans Swanston had for a $1 billion waterfront stadium and mixed-use development project in Bridgeport.—
P.R. Lockhart,
Hartford Courant,
9 May 2026
-
The blockade is intended to starve Iran of resources and force Tehran to reach a settlement ending its development of a nuclear weapon.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
In Colorado, with its extreme weather swings, aging homes, and rising insurance landscape, that advice carries extra weight.—
Sara B. Hansen,
Denver Post,
9 May 2026
-
The audience it was built to serve is aging out of peak moviegoing years as the audience replacing them has different formation patterns, different reference points, and a different relationship to the cultural texts the studios are trying to sell back.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
The Mario series was maturing alongside the greater video-game landscape, but its childlike essence remained—not through docile cuteness, but through a more grandiose fusion of wonder, whimsy, and wistfulness.—
Billie Bugara,
Pitchfork,
9 May 2026
-
Earlier this year, Rolex validated the sport’s fast-maturing structure and global, multigenerational audience by signing Coello as one of its Testimonees, or ambassadors.—
Robin Swithinbank,
Robb Report,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
If there is new growth from trunks, only remove the declining leaves.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 May 2026
-
When Not to Fertilize Fruit Trees Our experts say to avoid fertilizing fruit trees during the following periods to ensure healthy, abundant growth.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
10 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ripening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ripening. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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