ripened; ripening
ˈrī-pə-niŋ 
ˈrīp-niŋ
: to grow or become ripe
1
: to make ripe
2
a
: to bring to completeness or perfection
b
: to age or cure (cheese) to develop characteristic flavor, odor, body, texture, and color
c
: to improve flavor and tenderness of (beef or game) by aging under refrigeration
Examples of ripen in a Sentence
The tomatoes finished ripening on the windowsill.
You can ripen the fruit by placing it in a paper bag and storing it at room temperature for a few days.
Recent Examples on the Web
Joie Avocado Food Saver Stretch Pod $8 Are your avocados constantly ripening too quickly and turning mushy brown inside?
—
Stephanie Osmanski, Southern Living, 13 Apr. 2024
So tomatoes, squash and cucumbers need sun to ripen.
—Life Kit, NPR, 28 Mar. 2024
The ethylene gas from the other fruit will help the banana ripen faster, according to Frontiers for Young Minds.
—USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 2024
Now is the time that navel oranges and their varieties — Robertson and Cara Cara prominent among them — begin to ripen and will do so over the next four months.
—Joshua Siskin, Orange County Register, 27 Jan. 2024
Peppers take a long time to ripen, especially those that develop color.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 10 Jan. 2024
Related:Lawsuit against Michigan blueberry farm alleges labor trafficking violations
While many Michigan blueberry farms are responsible for high-yield production, some maintain the tradition of self-picking during the berry's ripening season from July to September.
—Detroit Free Press, 14 Mar. 2024
Your oven can help ripen bananas, according to Southern Living.
—USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 2024
These easy-care plants with small, dark green leaves produce many small, unique tasting berries (imagine a slightly resinous strawberry-mint bubblegum) that ripen in early fall.
—Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 1 Mar. 2024
Stephanie Osmanski, Southern Living, 13 Apr. 2024
So tomatoes, squash and cucumbers need sun to ripen.
—Life Kit, NPR, 28 Mar. 2024
The ethylene gas from the other fruit will help the banana ripen faster, according to Frontiers for Young Minds.
—USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 2024
Now is the time that navel oranges and their varieties — Robertson and Cara Cara prominent among them — begin to ripen and will do so over the next four months.
—Joshua Siskin, Orange County Register, 27 Jan. 2024
Peppers take a long time to ripen, especially those that develop color.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 10 Jan. 2024
Related:Lawsuit against Michigan blueberry farm alleges labor trafficking violations
While many Michigan blueberry farms are responsible for high-yield production, some maintain the tradition of self-picking during the berry's ripening season from July to September.
—Detroit Free Press, 14 Mar. 2024
Your oven can help ripen bananas, according to Southern Living.
—USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 2024
These easy-care plants with small, dark green leaves produce many small, unique tasting berries (imagine a slightly resinous strawberry-mint bubblegum) that ripen in early fall.
—Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 1 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ripen.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Ripen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ripen. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
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