as in to grow
to become mature
pears ripening on the tree
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Recent Examples of ripen
With 12 apple varieties that ripen during the pick-your-own season, there’s enough diversity to satisfy fans of tangy Mcintoshes and honey-sweet Jonamacs alike.
—
Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Sep. 2024
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
See all Example Sentences for ripen 
Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Sep. 2024
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
See all Example Sentences for ripen
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Cite this Entry
“Ripen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ripen. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.
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