ripe

[ rahyp ]

/ raɪp /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: ripe / ripeness on Thesaurus.com

adjective, rip·er, rip·est.

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.

resembling such fruit, as in ruddiness and fullness: ripe, red lips.

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

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

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

of mature judgment or knowledge: ripe scholars; a ripe mind.

characterized by full development of body or mind: of ripe years.

(of time) advanced: a ripe old age.

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

(of people) fully prepared or ready to do or undergo something: He was ripe for a change in jobs.

fully or sufficiently advanced; ready enough; auspicious: The time is ripe for a new foreign policy.

ready for some operation or process: a ripe abscess.

Archaic. drunk: reeling ripe.

OTHER WORDS FOR ripe

1 grown, aged.

See synonyms for ripe on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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

synonym study for ripe

1. 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 WORDS FROM ripe

ripely, adverbripeness, nounhalf-ripe, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH ripe

rife, ripe

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use ripe in a sentence

It tastes a little like turpentine, but loses this taste more and more the riper it gets.
A Woman's Journey Round the World|Ida Pfeiffer
Never were high-bush blackberries finer or riper; but the largest and ripest seemed always the hardest to get at.
The Nursery, August 1873, Vol. XIV. No. 2|Various
But I am departing from my story, and relating the follies of my youth instead of those of riper age.
The Adopted Daughter|Elizabeth Sandham
In this world, whether in boyhood or riper years, the happiest state of existence is when under control.
Newton Forster|Captain Frederick Marryat

That sad, though glorious reversion of our riper and darker years?
Ernest Linwood|Caroline Lee Hentz

British Dictionary definitions for ripe

ripe

/ (raɪp) /

adjective

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

mature enough to be eaten or usedripe cheese

fully developed in mind or body

resembling ripe fruit, esp in redness or fullnessa ripe complexion

(postpositive foll by for) ready or eager (to undertake or undergo an action)

(postpositive foll by for) suitable; right or opportunethe time is not yet ripe

mature in judgment or knowledge

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

slang

complete; thorough
excessive; exorbitant

slang slightly indecent; risqué

Derived forms of ripe

ripely, adverbripeness, noun

Word Origin for ripe

Old English rīpe; related to Old Saxon rīpi, Old High German rīfi, German reif

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with ripe

ripe

In addition to the idiom beginning with ripe

ripe old age

also see:

time is ripe

ripe

OTHER WORDS FOR ripe

Origin of ripe

synonym study for ripe

OTHER WORDS FROM ripe

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH ripe

Words related to ripe

How to use ripe in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for ripe

Derived forms of ripe

Word Origin for ripe

Other Idioms and Phrases with ripe