ripen
verb (used with or without object)
to make or become ripe.
ripening
-
present participleof ripen.present participle
A verb form that is used in progressive verb constructions and may also function as a modifier or a gerund.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Sand storms blew in from the Gobi, disrupting the ripening process and spoiling harvests.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026
Their study, published in Tropical Plants, found that the cooler temperature slows ripening, preserves fruit structure, and activates the mango's natural antioxidant defenses.
From Science Daily ● May 23, 2026
Grapefruit trees in the UK typically fruit once a year, with ripening taking up to 12 months after flowering in late spring or summer.
From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2025
The company turned the so-called ripening rooms, where tomatoes once were stored, into dorm rooms that hold 14 workers each.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 10, 2025
The corn was ripening into roasting ears now, and the coons would come at night and strip the shucks back with their little hands, and gnaw the milky kernels off the cob.
From "Old Yeller" by Fred Gipson
