riper; ripest
1
: fully grown and developed : mature
ripe fruit
ripe wheat
2
: having mature knowledge, understanding, or judgment
3
: of advanced years : late
a ripe old age
4
a
: suitable, appropriate
the time was ripe for the attempt
b
: fully prepared : ready
the colonies were ripe for revolution
6
: ruddy, plump, or full like ripened fruit
a ripe figure
7
: indecent
ripe language
ripely
adverb
ripeness
noun
Examples of ripe in a Sentence
The apples are nearly ripe.
the clothes of the field hands were sweaty and ripe after a hard day's work
Recent Examples on the Web
That means the weather was ripe for fire, and wind gusts of up to 25 miles per hour quickly whipped the fire toward inhabited areas.
—
Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 23 Apr. 2025
Unity Biotechnology is a leading example, but the space is still early and ripe for newcomers.
—Abdo Riani, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
The palate leads with soft, subtle smoke, followed by notes of ripe stone fruit, savory barbecue, black pepper spice, vanilla, and charred oak.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 22 Apr. 2025
With the earth softened by recent watering, the delighted students ran wild through the fields, picking ripe strawberries.
—Carmen Abd Ali, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ripe
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Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 23 Apr. 2025
Unity Biotechnology is a leading example, but the space is still early and ripe for newcomers.
—Abdo Riani, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
The palate leads with soft, subtle smoke, followed by notes of ripe stone fruit, savory barbecue, black pepper spice, vanilla, and charred oak.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 22 Apr. 2025
With the earth softened by recent watering, the delighted students ran wild through the fields, picking ripe strawberries.
—Carmen Abd Ali, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ripe
Cite this Entry
“Ripe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ripe. Accessed 28 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ripe
adjective
riper; ripest
1
: fully grown and developed
a ripe tomato
2
: having mature knowledge, understanding, or judgment
3
: ready entry 1 sense 1
ripe for action
4
: brought to just the right state
ripely
adverb
ripeness
noun
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