English · Word Candidate

ripe

/ɹaɪp/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: riper · ripest · ripes · riping

Sense 1

Meaning · English

Of a fruit, vegetable, seed, etc., ready for reaping or gathering; having attained perfection; mature.

Adjective

Examples

ripe grain

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

Of a food, advanced to the state of fitness for use; mellow.

Adjective

Examples

ripe cheese

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

A fruit or vegetable which has ripened.

Noun

Examples

When he realized that the ripes would not make it back to Selma, Zemurray offered a free bunch of bananas to any telegraph operator who notified local grocers that he was coming through with a shipment of bananas.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 4

Meaning · English

To ripen or mature.

Verb

Examples

[…] he answer'd, "Do not so; / Slubber not business for my sake, Bassanio, / But stay the very riping of the time; / […]

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “ripe” mean?

Of a fruit, vegetable, seed, etc., ready for reaping or gathering; having attained perfection; mature.

Is “ripe” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.