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
Fiona Embleton, Glamour, 5 Oct. 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
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
Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Oct. 2025
The bag-ripening process works like a charm.
—Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 20 Oct. 2025
Berries are ripening, seeds are bursting, and insect populations are at their peak.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 15 Oct. 2025
Refrigerating bananas slows ripening and reduces sugar spikes.
—Christopher Bergland, Verywell Health, 14 Oct. 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
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
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
This is the time of year for leaves crunching underfoot and the ripening of rosehips.
—Fiona Embleton, Glamour, 5 Oct. 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
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
Pruning peppers in fall not only encourages these plants to focus their energy on ripening any remaining fruit before frost arrives but also keeps them at a more manageable size to cover them as needed.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Oct. 2025
The bag-ripening process works like a charm.
—Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 20 Oct. 2025
Berries are ripening, seeds are bursting, and insect populations are at their peak.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 15 Oct. 2025
Refrigerating bananas slows ripening and reduces sugar spikes.
—Christopher Bergland, Verywell Health, 14 Oct. 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
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
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
-
Ideal temperature conditions for flowering are 65°F to 70°F during the day and 55°F to 65°F at night.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Oct. 2025
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His 10-year rivalry with another modern managerial great, Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola, saw the flowering of a new golden age for the English Premier League.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Charlotte is growing at a rapid rate, and infrastructure, including public transportation, is a critical part of that growth.—
Nick Sullivan,
Charlotte Observer,
21 Oct. 2025
-
The environmental effects on national parks and public lands are growing.—
Monica Sanders,
Forbes.com,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The Katsura, Uji, and Kizu rivers meet nearby, creating the ideal damp climate for whisky maturation.—
Liz Provencher,
Travel + Leisure,
21 Oct. 2025
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The past couple of releases, while good, have been dominated by the sherry casks used in their maturation.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Construction is progressing on what’s set to become the world’s tallest building.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
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Holtec, which bought the plant in 2022, revealed that the major equipment restoration work is progressing across the plant.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
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An atypical role for a presidential foundation At the least, the developments represent an unusually tense application of the foundation’s typical mission, which is to buttress Reagan’s legacy.—
Bill Barrow,
Fortune,
25 Oct. 2025
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Chen’s Prince Group employs thousands of people and bills itself as one of the biggest conglomerates in Cambodia, with investments in luxury real estate, banking services, hotels, major construction developments, grocery stores and even luxury watches.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
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China’s slowing growth in the third quarter relative to the rest of the year increases pressure on the Communist Party to accomplish its annual growth target of 5%.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
20 Oct. 2025
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Specifically, the analyst estimated a growth figure of around 10%.—
Lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
As this season is already showing, the evolution of tactical systems will continue.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
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At the same time, Platner has suggested that opponents, both Republican and Democrat, have deliberately bypassed the possibility of individual evolution and human transformation in an attempt to destroy his campaign.—
Emily Hallas,
The Washington Examiner,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ripening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ripening. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.
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