- to make or become ripe
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
rip•en /ˈraɪpən/USA pronunciation
v.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- Botanyto (cause to) become ripe: [~ + object]to ripen cheese.[no object]The cheese ripens in those barrels for years.
rip•en
(rī′pən),USA pronunciation v.t., v.i.
rip′en•er, n.
- Botanyto make or become ripe.
- Developmental Biologyto bring or come to maturity, the proper condition, etc.;
mature.
- ripe + -en1 1555–65
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
ripen /ˈraɪpən/ vb
'ripening' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
apricot
- maturation
- precocious
- amphicarpous
- bletting
- droppage
- ethephon
- green
- hydrocooling
- Macoun
- precocity
- propionibacterium
- rareripe
- rathe
- ripe rot
- wealthy