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.
a system that was ripe for abuse
specifically, of a legal action : ready for judicial resolution because the injury is certain and not hypothetical
5
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
Nothing says summer quite like picking the ripe homegrown tomato straight from your garden. —
Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Apr. 2026 That combination of saltwater and freshwater influence creates conditions ripe for ecological surprises. —Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Apr. 2026 This the sweet spot Bek thinks is ripe for AI-native service firms. —Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026 When blueberries are in season, there's nothing quite like the sweet taste of these ripe and juicy gems all summer long. —Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 20 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ripe
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Apr. 2026 That combination of saltwater and freshwater influence creates conditions ripe for ecological surprises. —Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Apr. 2026 This the sweet spot Bek thinks is ripe for AI-native service firms. —Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026 When blueberries are in season, there's nothing quite like the sweet taste of these ripe and juicy gems all summer long. —Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 20 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ripe
Cite this Entry
“Ripe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/ripe. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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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