as in to grow
to become mature
pears ripening on the tree
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Recent Examples of ripen
Series were allowed to ripen, develop audiences, find their footing: famously The Office softened up many episodes in, while Mad Men went the other way, going from jazzy period diversion to existentially profound character study.
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Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 23 Dec. 2025
Each month this year, Alder visited Jacques to see which fruits were ripening in his garden — actually, an expansive hillside collection of 200 fruiting trees, shrubs, and vines.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 13 Dec. 2025
Once bananas ripen, that starch converts to sugar, reducing those benefits.
—Dr. Steven Gundry, CNBC, 21 Nov. 2025
The pecan nuts that look like little brown footballs are actually the seed that starts inside the pecan fruit – until the fruit ripens and splits open to release the pecan.
—Shelley Mitchell, The Conversation, 18 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ripen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ripen
Verb
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If similar inflow patterns are found in other inactive galaxies, red geysers could become a key model for understanding how galaxies across the universe grow old, and quietly stay that way.—
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The strategy reflects McDonald's broader push to lean on nostalgia and popular partnerships to drive traffic and loyalty at a time when consumers are growing more cautious about spending, the outlet reported, citing a recent earnings call.—
Verb
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December 22 – January 19 When boundaries feel tight, kindness unlocks progress.—
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Capricorn December 22 – January 19 When boundaries feel tight, kindness unlocks progress.—
Cite this Entry
“Ripen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ripen. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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