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
Due to the hurricanes and unusual fall weather, my tomatoes are just beginning to ripen.
—
Tom MacCubbin, Orlando Sentinel, 11 Jan. 2025
Cheeses that haven’t been aged — meaning they haven’t been left to ripen for weeks, months or years — typically contain more lactose than aged cheeses, Ms. Jenks said.
—Caroline Hopkins Legaspi, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2024
This slows grape ripening, leading to a longer hang time.
—Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
The 2021 growing season was cooler than average with maturation and ripening less harried than usual.
—Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 12 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ripen 
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Tom MacCubbin, Orlando Sentinel, 11 Jan. 2025
Cheeses that haven’t been aged — meaning they haven’t been left to ripen for weeks, months or years — typically contain more lactose than aged cheeses, Ms. Jenks said.
—Caroline Hopkins Legaspi, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2024
This slows grape ripening, leading to a longer hang time.
—Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
The 2021 growing season was cooler than average with maturation and ripening less harried than usual.
—Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 12 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ripen
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Dictionary Entries Near ripen
Cite this Entry
“Ripen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ripen. Accessed 26 Jan. 2025.
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