ripen

American  

[rahy-puhn] / ˈraɪ pən /

verb (used with or without object)

1. to make or become ripe.

2. to bring or come to maturity, the proper condition, etc.; mature.

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ripen British  

/ ˈraɪpən /

verb

1. to make or become ripe

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Other Word Forms

• half-ripened adjective
• overripen verb
• ripener noun
• underripened adjective
• unripened adjective
• unripening adjective
• well-ripened adjective

Etymology

Origin of ripen

First recorded in 1555–65; ripe + -en ¹

Example Sentences

As flowers bloomed or vegetables ripened, talk was less of the bitter past, more of tomorrow’s weather.

From Literature

Risk and ripening at Apple, Tojo’s destructive plan, a father’s formidable presence and more.

From The Wall Street Journal

Swinging hard and heavy, they hoisted the bananas up to the roof to ripen.

From Literature

“They will ripen in a few days. Take them home with you. So you won’t forget us.”

From Literature

At 72, Uncle Thing wakes up at dawn every day and weaves around his hilly farm to collect ripened durians, either dangling from trees or nestling on nets close to the ground.

From BBC

Related Words

• cultivate