ripe

American  

[rahyp] / raɪp /

adjective

• riper,
  comparative
• ripest
  superlative

1. having arrived at such a stage of growth or development as to be ready for reaping, gathering, eating, or use, as grain or fruit; completely matured.

   Synonyms:

   aged, grown

2. resembling such fruit, as in ruddiness and fullness.

   ripe, red lips.

3. advanced to the point of being in the best condition for use, as cheese or beer.

4. fully grown or developed, as animals when ready to be killed and used for food.

5. arrived at the highest or a high point of development or excellence; mature.

6. of mature judgment or knowledge.

   ripe scholars; a ripe mind.

7. characterized by full development of body or mind.

   of ripe years.

8. (of time) advanced.

   a ripe old age.

9. (of ideas, plans, etc.) ready for action, execution, etc.

10. (of people) fully prepared or ready to do or undergo something.

    He was ripe for a change in jobs.

11. fully or sufficiently advanced; ready enough; auspicious.

    The time is ripe for a new foreign policy.

12. ready for some operation or process.

    a ripe abscess.

13. Archaic. drunk.

    reeling ripe.

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ripe British  

/ raɪp /

adjective

1. (of fruit, grain, etc) mature and ready to be eaten or used; fully developed

2. mature enough to be eaten or used

   ripe cheese

3. fully developed in mind or body

4. resembling ripe fruit, esp in redness or fullness

   a ripe complexion

5. ready or eager (to undertake or undergo an action)

6. suitable; right or opportune

   the time is not yet ripe

7. mature in judgment or knowledge

8. advanced but healthy (esp in the phrase a ripe old age )

9. slang

   1. complete; thorough

   2. excessive; exorbitant

10. slang slightly indecent; risqué

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ripe Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing ripe

• time is ripe

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Synonym Usage

Ripe, mature, mellow refer to that which is no longer in an incomplete stage of development. Ripe implies completed growth beyond which the processes of decay begin: a ripe banana. Mature means fully grown and developed as used of living organisms: a mature animal; a mature tree. Mellow denotes complete absence of sharpness or asperity, with sweetness and richness such as characterize ripeness or age: mellow fruit; mellow flavor.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• ripeness
  noun
• half-ripe
  adjective
• ripely
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Adjectives

• riper
  comparative
• ripest
  superlative

Etymology

Origin of ripe

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English rīpe; cognate with Dutch rijp, German reif; akin to Old English ripan “to harvest, reap”; see reap

Explanation

When a fruit is ripe, it is time to pick it and eat it. If you say the time is ripe, then now is the time for action. Ripe means ready. Ripe can also describe something that is not only ready to happen but well-suited for whatever is happening. A company can expect profits if the market is ripe for its product. When a ballpark has a short field, batters will say that the field is ripe for home runs. When things are ripe, it's a good thing — the time for action is now.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

ripe riper ripest

Combined with a particularly strong El Niño cycle this year and the effects of climate change, conditions have been ripe this season for warmer-water species to travel north, and vice versa.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 15, 2026

Subtle and savory, with pretty aromas of rose and fennel, a silky mineral mouth feel and flavors including ripe red cherry, wild strawberry and a hint of fresh herbs.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 2, 2026

I grated a ripe tomato into a bowl, an operation I find disproportionately satisfying.

From Salon ● Aug. 1, 2026

“It certainly feels like an area that could be ripe for exploitation if people are not careful,” Van Noy said.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 31, 2026

That is another reason why his book drew such a response—it struck a chord, because the time was ripe for such a summing up and laying of foundations.

From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin

It is still unknown whether chimpanzees deliberately choose fruits with higher ethanol levels, which tend to be riper and richer in sugar that can ferment.

From Science Daily ● Dec. 1, 2025

In other words, apple growers and supermarkets began selling redder apples to convince consumers that redder meant riper and also, better.

From Salon ● Sep. 4, 2023

Miles Bron is a riper target with more recognizable real-world analogues than the eccentric novelist played by Christopher Plummer the first time around.

From New York Times ● Nov. 21, 2022

The Isles had also won only once the prior five contests, so, in theory they were riper for picking.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 23, 2022

He was preceded by his stench, riper than the cheese and overpowering in the closed space.

From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin

The Justice Department has charged an Army special forces soldier, alleging that he used one of the world’s ripest insider-trading platforms to profit off of advance knowledge of a military operation.

From Slate ● Apr. 24, 2026

Jaimin Rangwalla: What makes technology attractive is that it is one of the ripest areas for disruption.

From Barron's ● Nov. 12, 2025

Sloe gin also has a Christmas association because the berries are at their ripest in the autumn, and its “earthy warm flavor” suits the time of year, she adds.

From Washington Times ● Jan. 1, 2024

And yet, Hollywood is increasingly viewing video games as one of the ripest, richest veins of intellectual property outside of comic books.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 21, 2021

As I got closer, I saw that everyone was taking a portion of their meal and dropping it into the fire, the ripest strawberry, the juiciest slice of beef, the warmest, most buttery roll.

From "The Lightning Thief" by Rick Riordan

Related Words

• mature
• overdue
• plump
• prepared
• ready