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ripen

[ rahy-puh n ]

/ ˈraɪ pən /

verb (used with or without object)

to make or become ripe.

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

Origin of ripen

First recorded in 1555–65; ripe + -en¹

OTHER WORDS FROM ripen

rip·en·er, noun half-rip·ened, adjective o·ver·rip·en, verb un·der·rip·ened, adjective

un·rip·ened, adjective un·rip·en·ing, adjective well-rip·ened, adjective

Words nearby ripen

riparian right, ripcord, ripe, ripe old age, ripe rot, ripen, ripidolite, ripieno, ripken, ripley, ripoff

Example sentences from the Web for ripening

This is a very juicy, clingstone peach, having a delicious, aromatic flavor and ripening early in September.

The Peaches of New York |U. P. Hedrick
And yet the ripening process is sometimes so slow that the frost of fear or the rot of regret spoils the fruit.

Analyzing Character |Katherine M. H. Blackford and Arthur Newcomb
The flowers bloomed as gayly as before, and the fields were thick with ripening grain.

Stories from Northern Myths |Emilie Kip Baker
They are eager to see the blade, and delighted to mark the ripening ear.

Talks To Farmers |Charles Haddon Spurgeon

The pods turn purple when ripening but afterwards change to russet-brown.

American Forest Trees |Henry H. Gibson

British Dictionary definitions for ripening

ripen

/ (ˈraɪpən) /

verb

to make or become ripe

Derived forms of ripen

ripener, noun