Ripe fruit or grain is fully grown and ready to eat.
Always choose firm, but ripe fruit.
...fields of ripe wheat.
Synonyms: ripened, seasoned, ready, mature More Synonyms of ripe
ripenessuncountable noun
Test the figs for ripeness.
2. adjective
If a situation is ripe for a particular development or event, you mean that development or event is likely to happen soon.
Conditions were ripe for an outbreak of cholera. [+ for]
This society is ripe for change.
Synonyms: right, fit, ready, suitable More Synonyms of ripe
3.
See ripe old age
4.
See ripe for picking/plucking
5.
See the time is ripe
More Synonyms of ripe
ripe in British English
(raɪp)
adjective
1.
(of fruit, grain, etc) mature and ready to be eaten or used; fully developed
2.
mature enough to be eaten or used
ripe cheese
3.
fully developed in mind or body
4.
resembling ripe fruit, esp in redness or fullness
a ripe complexion
5. (postpositive; foll byfor)
ready or eager (to undertake or undergo an action)
6. (postpositive; foll byfor)
suitable; right or opportune
the time is not yet ripe
7.
mature in judgment or knowledge
8.
advanced but healthy (esp in the phrase a ripe old age)
9. slang
a.
complete; thorough
b.
excessive; exorbitant
10. slang
slightly indecent; risqué
Derived forms
ripely (ˈripely)
adverb
ripeness (ˈripeness)
noun
Word origin
Old English rīpe; related to Old Saxon rīpi, Old High German rīfi, German reif
ripe in American English
(raɪp)
adjectiveWord forms: ˈriper or ˈripest
1.
fully grown or developed; specif., ready to be harvested and used for food, as grain or fruit
2.
like ripe fruit, as in being ruddy and full
ripe lips
3.
sufficiently advanced, as by being kept in storage or subjected to treatment, to be ready for use
ripe wine, ripe cheese
4.
fully or highly developed by study, experience, etc.; mature as in judgment, knowledge, etc.
ripe wisdom
5.
a.
characterized by full physical or mental development
a person of ripe years
b.
advanced in years
the ripe age of ninety
6.
ready to do, receive, or undergo something; fully prepared
ripe for marriage
7.
ready for some operation, treatment, or process
a boil ripe for lancing
8.
sufficiently advanced; far enough along (for some purpose)
said of time
9.
having a strong, unpleasant smell
SYNONYMY NOTE: ripe, in its basic application, implies readiness to be harvested, eaten, used, etc. [ripe apples, cheese, etc.] and, in extended use, full readiness for action, etc. [ripe for change]; mature implies full growth or development, as of living organisms, the mind, etc. [a mature tree, mature judgment]; mellow suggests the qualities typical of ripe fruit, such as softness, sweetness, etc. andtherefore stresses the absence of sharpness, harshness, etc. [a mellow flavor, mood, etc.]; adult is applied to a person who has reached complete physical or mental maturity, or legalmajority, and to ideas, etc. that show mature thinking
OPPOSITES: unripe, immature
Derived forms
ripely (ˈripely)
adverb
ripeness (ˈripeness)
noun
Word origin
OE, akin to reap
Examples of 'ripe' in a sentence
ripe
The time is ripe for organisations to take action.
Computing (2010)
Incredibly simple to put together, these two are ripe and ready to eat in no time.
The Sun (2016)
Apart from growing to a ripe old age, the locals were also in great health, he said.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
She lived to a ripe old age.
Jan Fennell FRIENDS FOR LIFE (2003)
They tend to be innocuous when not fully ripe but the flavour builds up.
Smith, Drew Food Watch (1994)
The lure of ripe fruit had made it throw caution to the wind.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The time is ripe to reconsider who and what our streets are for.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Wild strawberries are ripe and ready to be picked.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
This practice is now surely ripe for change.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
All the way to a ripe old age.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
They have got all the flavour profiles that come from being fully ripe.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
He said that fruit could be ripe for picking three weeks earlier than normal.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Now the time was ripe to proceed with change.
Christianity Today (2000)
These are getting ripe and ready to open.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
But the higher education sector is ripe for change.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
So what are we to make of the rash of forecasts that the time is ripe for a resurgence in equities?
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
She's as ripe and firm and plump as a mango.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Pipe makers live to a ripe old age, with no known damage to their health.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Cut firm but ripe pears lengthways into eight and core, then lay over the leaves.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Serve very ripe peaches with goat's cheese after dinner.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
You'll be rewarded with a fully ripe tomato with thin skin and full flavour.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Pick Just ripe fruit clean and dry.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
When you smell a ripe cheese, how do you know that you are enjoying the same odour that others detect?
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Of course, my top tip to try to get to a ripe old age would be to not get cancer.
The Sun (2016)
Do I want to live to be a ripe old age?
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In other languages
ripe
British English: ripe /raɪp/ ADJECTIVE
Ripe fruit or grain is fully grown and ready to be harvested or eaten.
...firm, but ripe fruit.
American English: ripe
Arabic: نَاضِج
Brazilian Portuguese: maduro
Chinese: 成熟的
Croatian: zreo
Czech: zralý
Danish: moden
Dutch: rijp
European Spanish: maduro fruta
Finnish: kypsä hedelmä ym.
French: mûr fruit
German: reif Frucht
Greek: ώριμος
Italian: maturo
Japanese: 熟した
Korean: 여문
Norwegian: moden spiseklar
Polish: dojrzały
European Portuguese: maduro
Romanian: copt
Russian: созревший
Latin American Spanish: maduro en sazón
Swedish: mogen
Thai: สุก
Turkish: olgun mevye
Ukrainian: стиглий
Vietnamese: chín quả
Chinese translation of 'ripe'
ripe
(raɪp)
adj
[fruit, corn]成熟的 (chéngshú de)
[cheese]发(發)酵好的 (fājiào hǎo de)
to be ripe for sth某事的时(時)机(機)已成熟 (mǒushì de shíjī yǐ chéngshú)
the time is ripe时(時)机(機)已成熟 (shíjī yǐ chéngshú)
he lived to a ripe old age他活到高龄(齡) (tā huó dào gāolíng)
1 (adjective)
Definition
mature enough to be eaten or used
Always choose firm but ripe fruit.
Synonyms
ripened
seasoned
The author is a seasoned academic.
ready
In a few days' time the sprouts will be ready to eat.
mature
Here is the voice of a mature man, expressing sorrow for a lost ideal.
mellow
a mellow, creamy Somerset Brie
fully developed
fully grown
Opposites
green
,
immature
,
undeveloped
,
unripe
2 (adjective)
Definition
suitable
Conditions are ripe for an outbreak of cholera.
Synonyms
right
Make sure you approach it in the right way.
fit
You're not fit to be in charge of this company.
ready
suitable
She had no other dress suitable for the occasion.
3 (adjective)
He lived to the ripe old age of 65.
Synonyms
mature
Grate some mature cheddar cheese.
old
I was considered too old for the job.
advanced
hoary
the hoary old myth that women are unpredictable
4 (adjective)
The time is ripe for high-level dialogue.
Synonyms
suitable
He could think of no less suitable moment to mention the idea.
timely
These outbreaks are a timely reminder that the disease persists.
ideal
She decided I was the ideal person to take over this job.
favourable
favourable weather conditions
auspicious
His career had an auspicious start.
opportune (formal)
I have arrived at a very opportune moment.
Opposites
inappropriate
,
unfitting
,
unsuitable
,
inconvenient
,
unseemly
,
untimely
,
unfavourable
,
inopportune
,
disadvantageous
5 (adjective)
Definition
ready or eager to (undertake or undergo an action)
Do you feel ripe for the journey?
Synonyms
ready for
prepared for
eager for
in readiness for
Additional synonyms
in the sense of auspicious
Definition
showing the signs of future success
His career had an auspicious start.
Synonyms
favourable,
timely,
happy,
promising,
encouraging,
bright,
lucky,
hopeful,
fortunate,
prosperous,
rosy,
opportune (formal),
propitious,
felicitous
in the sense of favourable
Definition
advantageous, encouraging, or promising
favourable weather conditions
Synonyms
advantageous,
timely,
good,
promising,
fit,
encouraging,
fair,
appropriate,
suitable,
helpful,
hopeful,
convenient,
beneficial,
auspicious,
opportune (formal),
propitious
in the sense of fit
Definition
worthy or suitable
You're not fit to be in charge of this company.
Synonyms
appropriate,
qualified,
suitable,
competent,
right,
becoming,
meet (archaic),
seemly,
trained,
able,
prepared,
fitting,
fitted,
ready,
skilled,
correct,
deserving,
capable,
adapted,
proper,
equipped,
good enough,
adequate,
worthy,
convenient,
apt,
well-suited,
expedient,
apposite
Synonyms of 'ripe'
ripe
Explore 'ripe' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of hoary
Definition
very old
the hoary old myth that women are unpredictable
Synonyms
old,
aged,
ancient,
antique,
venerable,
antiquated
in the sense of ideal
Definition
most suitable
She decided I was the ideal person to take over this job.
Synonyms
perfect,
best,
model,
classic,
supreme,
ultimate,
archetypal,
exemplary,
consummate,
optimal,
quintessential
in the sense of mellow
Definition
(esp. of wine or cheese) having developed a full smooth flavour as a result of maturing
a mellow, creamy Somerset Brie
Synonyms
ripe,
perfect,
mature,
ripened,
well-matured,
MLO
in the sense of old
Definition
having lived or existed for a long time
I was considered too old for the job.
Synonyms
aged,
elderly,
ancient,
getting on,
grey,
mature,
past it (informal),
venerable,
patriarchal,
grey-haired,
antiquated,
over the hill (informal),
senile,
grizzled,
decrepit,
hoary,
senescent,
advanced in years,
full of years,
past your prime
in the sense of opportune
Definition
(of time) suitable for a particular purpose
I have arrived at a very opportune moment.
Synonyms
timely,
fitting,
fit,
welcome,
lucky,
appropriate,
suitable,
happy,
proper,
convenient,
fortunate,
favourable,
apt,
advantageous,
auspicious,
fortuitous,
well-timed,
propitious,
heaven-sent,
felicitous,
providential,
seasonable,
falling into your lap
in the sense of ready
In a few days' time the sprouts will be ready to eat.
Synonyms
mature,
ripe,
mellow,
ripened,
fully developed,
fully grown,
seasoned
in the sense of seasoned
The author is a seasoned academic.
Synonyms
experienced,
veteran,
mature,
practised,
old,
weathered,
hardened,
long-serving,
battle-scarred,
time-served,
well-versed
in the sense of timely
Definition
at the right or an appropriate time
These outbreaks are a timely reminder that the disease persists.