ripe

[ rahyp ]

adjective

, rip·er, rip·est.

1. having arrived at such a stage of growth or development as to be ready for reaping, gathering, eating, or use, as grain or fruit; completely matured.

   Synonyms: aged, grown

2. resembling such fruit, as in ruddiness and fullness:

   ripe, red lips.

3. advanced to the point of being in the best condition for use, as cheese or beer.
4. fully grown or developed, as animals when ready to be killed and used for food.
5. arrived at the highest or a high point of development or excellence; mature.
6. of mature judgment or knowledge:

   ripe scholars; a ripe mind.

7. characterized by full development of body or mind:

   of ripe years.

8. (of time) advanced:

   a ripe old age.

9. (of ideas, plans, etc.) ready for action, execution, etc.
10. (of people) fully prepared or ready to do or undergo something:

    He was ripe for a change in jobs.

11. fully or sufficiently advanced; ready enough; auspicious:

    The time is ripe for a new foreign policy.

12. ready for some operation or process:

    a ripe abscess.

13. Archaic. drunk:

    reeling ripe.

ripe

/ 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. postpositivefoll byfor ready or eager (to undertake or undergo an action)
6. postpositivefoll 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.
   1. complete; thorough
   2. excessive; exorbitant
10. slang.
    slightly indecent; risqué

Derived Forms

• ˈripely, adverb
• ˈripeness, noun

Other Words From

• ripely adverb
• ripeness noun
• half-ripe adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ripe¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English rīpe; cognate with Dutch rijp, German reif; akin to Old English ripan “to harvest, reap”; reap

Word History and Origins

Origin of ripe¹

Old English rīpe ; related to Old Saxon rīpi , Old High German rīfi , German reif

Idioms and Phrases

In addition to the idiom beginning with ripe , also see time is ripe .

Synonym Study

Ripe, mature, mellow refer to that which is no longer in an incomplete stage of development. Ripe implies completed growth beyond which the processes of decay begin: a ripe banana. Mature means fully grown and developed as used of living organisms: a mature animal; a mature tree. Mellow denotes complete absence of sharpness or asperity, with sweetness and richness such as characterize ripeness or age: mellow fruit; mellow flavor.

Example Sentences

The conditions were ripe for disaster, and neighborhoods had few defenses.

From Los Angeles Times

The conditions were ripe for disaster, and neighborhoods had few defenses.

From Los Angeles Times

And “Master of Me” is her second book; she published her first, “I Don’t Belong to You: Quiet the Noise and Find Your Voice,” at the ripe ol’ age of 21.

From Los Angeles Times

The conditions were ripe for disaster, and neighborhoods had few defenses.

From Los Angeles Times

Once that glue came unstuck, he said, the party was ripe for defeat.

From BBC

Related Words

• mature
• overdue
• plump
• prepared
• ready