ripen

[ rahy-puhn ]
See synonyms for: ripenripenedripening on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with or without object)
  1. to make or become ripe.

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

Origin of ripen

1
First recorded in 1555–65; ripe + -en1

Other words from ripen

  • rip·en·er, noun
  • half-ripened, adjective
  • o·ver·rip·en, verb
  • un·der·rip·ened, adjective
  • un·rip·ened, adjective
  • un·rip·en·ing, adjective
  • well-ripened, adjective

Words Nearby ripen

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use ripen in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for ripen

ripen

/ (ˈraɪpən) /


verb
  1. to make or become ripe

Derived forms of ripen

  • ripener, noun

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