ripened; ripening
ˈrī-pə-niŋ 
ˈrīp-niŋ
: to grow or become ripe
1
: to make ripe
2
a
: to bring to completeness or perfection
b
: to age or cure (cheese) to develop characteristic flavor, odor, body, texture, and color
c
: to improve flavor and tenderness of (beef or game) by aging under refrigeration
Examples of ripen in a Sentence
The tomatoes finished ripening on the windowsill.
You can ripen the fruit by placing it in a paper bag and storing it at room temperature for a few days.
Recent Examples on the Web
Refrigerating bananas slows ripening and reduces sugar spikes.
—
Christopher Bergland, Verywell Health, 14 Oct. 2025
Fruit Flies Tiny fruit flies come in from outside, attracted to ripening produce on your kitchen counter, or they may be brought in on infested fruit.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 10 Oct. 2025
However, the capsaicin content of peppers doesn’t increase at a steady rate during the pepper-ripening process.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Oct. 2025
Afaaq must stop him from leaving before the apples ripen and the harvest begins.
—Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ripen
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Christopher Bergland, Verywell Health, 14 Oct. 2025
Fruit Flies Tiny fruit flies come in from outside, attracted to ripening produce on your kitchen counter, or they may be brought in on infested fruit.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 10 Oct. 2025
However, the capsaicin content of peppers doesn’t increase at a steady rate during the pepper-ripening process.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Oct. 2025
Afaaq must stop him from leaving before the apples ripen and the harvest begins.
—Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ripen
Cite this Entry
“Ripen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ripen. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
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