Ripe Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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ripe

[raษชp ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Adjective

fruit

Fully developed and ready to be eaten, having reached the peak of flavor and ripeness.

Synonyms

mature, ready, sweet.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
ripe

Use when describing fruit or vegetables that have reached their peak of taste and quality.

  • The tomatoes are ripe and ready to be picked
  • The ripe berries were sweet and delicious
mature

Applicable to both living organisms and behaviors, often indicating full development in a positive sense. It can also refer to more advanced or complex things.

  • She is a mature professional with a lot of experience
  • The wine needs a few more years to become fully mature
ready

Best used to indicate something or someone that is prepared or in the right state to begin an action or process.

  • The team is ready for the competition
  • Your meal is ready
sweet

Commonly used when describing a pleasant taste, especially for food items like fruit, desserts, etc. It can also describe a nice personality in people.

  • The apple is very sweet
  • She has a sweet personality

Examples of usage

  • The banana was perfectly ripe and delicious.
  • She waited until the peaches were ripe before picking them from the tree.
Context #2 | Adjective

person

Fully developed in body or mind, mature.

Synonyms

experienced, mature, seasoned.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
ripe

Use when talking about fruit or food that is fully grown and ready to be eaten. It can also describe a situation that is ready to happen.

  • The bananas are ripe; we should eat them before they go bad.
  • The time is ripe for making changes in the company.
mature

Often used to describe someone who is emotionally and mentally developed and behaves in a reasonable manner. Can also refer to objects or concepts that are fully developed.

  • He is very mature for his age and handles responsibilities well.
  • The software is now mature and widely used in the industry.
experienced

Refers to someone who has a lot of knowledge or skill from doing something for a long time.

  • She is an experienced teacher who knows how to handle difficult students.
  • An experienced pilot can navigate through difficult weather conditions.
seasoned

Usually describes someone who has a lot of experience in a particular field or activity, often implying that they are very skilled because of this experience.

  • She is a seasoned journalist who has covered many important stories.
  • The seasoned chef prepared the dish flawlessly.

Examples of usage

  • At 16, she was a ripe young woman, ready to take on the world.
  • He was a ripe old age of 80, but still full of energy.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Agriculture

  • The ripening process is crucial for farmers because it determines the best time for harvesting crops.
  • Different fruits have specific ripening indicators, such as color change, softening in texture, or sweetness levels.

Science

  • Ripening involves complex chemical processes that change the fruit's starches into sugars, enhancing sweetness.
  • Certain gases, like ethylene, are emitted by fruits to signal and accelerate ripening, which is used commercially to control the process.

Cultural Associations

  • In many cultures, ripe fruits are symbols of abundance and fertility, celebrated during harvest festivals.
  • The phrase 'ripe for change' in cultural contexts often speaks to the idea of something or someone being ready for transformation.

Art

  • Artists often depict ripe fruits in still life paintings to symbolize richness and the fleeting nature of life.
  • Famous artists like Claude Monet used ripe fruits in their work to explore color, texture, and light in still life settings.

Origin of 'ripe'

Main points about word origin

  • The word 'ripe' comes from the Old English 'rฤซpe', which means to be fully matured.
  • This term is related to the Proto-Germanic word 'rฤซpล', reflecting its long history in the language.

The word 'ripe' originated from the Old English word 'rฤซpe', meaning mature or ready for harvesting. It has been used to describe the readiness of fruits and crops for centuries. In the context of a person, 'ripe' has been used to denote maturity and full development since the Middle Ages. The word has evolved to convey the idea of readiness and maturity in various aspects of life.


See also: ripen, ripened, ripeness, ripening, unripe, unripeness.

Word Frequency Rank

At #6,988 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.