ripe
Describes fruit or other food that has grown enough and is ready to eat now.
Describes fruit, vegetables, or other food that have fully developed and are ready to be eaten, often with their best flavor and texture.
Describes a time or situation that is very ready for something to happen.
Describes a time, condition, or situation that is fully ready and especially suitable for a particular change, action, or event.
Describes something that has a lot of something in it, especially an idea or feeling.
Describes something that is filled or loaded with a particular quality, thing, or possibility, often used with abstract nouns.
Used in 'a ripe old age' to say someone lived to be very old, usually in a positive way.
Used mainly in the fixed phrase 'a ripe old age' to describe someone who has lived to be very old, usually in reasonably good health.
Describes something that smells very bad, often because it is old, dirty, or rotten.
Describes something, especially garbage, old food, or a sweaty body, that has a strong and unpleasant smell.
Describes jokes or words that are rude, often about sex, and may offend some people.
Describes jokes, comments, or language that are crude, often sexual, and may be offensive or shocking to some people.
- Base: ripe
- Comparative: riper
- Superlative: ripest
a ripe old age
1living to be very old
Used to say that someone lived to be very old, usually in a positive, warm way.
- She passed away peacefully at the ripe old age of ninety-three.
- I hope to reach a ripe old age with my partner.
- Their dog lived to a ripe old age thanks to good care.
ripe for [something]
1in a state ready for something
Used to say that a person, place, or situation is very ready for something to happen, often a big change or opportunity.
- This neighborhood is ripe for development.
- After the scandal, the company was ripe for new leadership.
- With so many problems, the system is ripe for reform.
ripe for the picking
1easy to take or exploit
Used to say that something, such as a market, group, or opportunity, is very easy to use or take advantage of.
- With no strong competitors, the small-business market is ripe for the picking.
- The town was ripe for the picking for any developer with money.
- Cheap tickets left over at the last minute are ripe for the picking.
ripe with [something]
1full of something, often abstract
Used to say that something has a lot of something in it, often ideas, chances, or feelings.
- The city is ripe with possibilities for young artists.
- The movie is ripe with cultural references and jokes.
- Social media is ripe with misinformation these days.
the time is ripe (for [something])
1now is the right moment
Used to say that now is a very good or the best moment to do something.
- The time is ripe for us to launch a new product.
- Many feel that the time is ripe for serious climate action.
- The time is ripe to talk honestly about money.