Meaning

Of a fruit, vegetable, seed, etc., ready for reaping or gathering; having attained perfection; mature..

Definitions by Sense

1. Of a fruit, vegetable, seed, etc., ready for reaping or gathering; having attained perfection; mature.
2. Of a food, advanced to the state of fitness for use; mellow.
3. (figuratively) Having attained its full development; mature; perfected.
4. (archaic) Of a sore, tumor, etc., maturated or suppurated; ready to discharge.
5. Ready for action or effect; prepared.
6. (colloquial) Of a person, ready, willing, eager.
7. Like ripened fruit in ruddiness and plumpness.
8. (obsolete) Intoxicated.

Example Sentences

ripe grain

ripe apples

So mayst thou live, till, like ripe fruit, thou drop / Into thy mother's lap.

Plant breeding is always a numbers game.[…]The wild species we use are rich in genetic variation, […]. In addition, we are looking for rare alleles, so the more plants we try, the better. These rarities may be new mutations, or they can be existing ones that are neutral—or are even selected against—in a wild population. A good example is mutations that disrupt seed dispersal, leaving the seeds on the heads long after they are ripe.

ripe cheese

ripe wine

He was a scholar, and a ripe and good one.

And so may Place retain us still, ⁠And he the much-beloved again, ⁠A lord of large experience, train To riper growth the mind and will: […]

Word Forms

• riper
• ripest
• rype
• ripes
• riping
• riped

Synonyms for ripe

Antonyms for ripe

Related Words

When Should You Use Ripe?

Use ripe when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

Practice This Word

Frequently Asked Questions