ripe /raɪp/ BrE AmE adjective ( comparative riper , superlative ripest )
[ Language: Old English ]
1 . ripe fruit or crops are fully grown and ready to eat OPP unripe :
Those tomatoes aren’t ripe yet.
2 . be ripe for something to be ready for a change to happen, especially when it should have happened sooner:
The police forces are ripe for reform.
The former dock area is ripe for development.
3 . the time is ripe (for something) used to say it is a very suitable time for something to happen, especially when it should have happened sooner:
The time is ripe for a review of progress up to now.
4 . ripe old age
a) if you live to a ripe old age, you are very old when you die:
Eat less and exercise more if you want to live to a ripe old age.
b) used to show that you find it surprising or impressive that someone is doing something or has achieved something at a very young age – used humorously:
She was put in charge at the ripe old age of twenty-nine.
5 . ripe cheese has developed a strong taste and is ready to eat SYN mature
6 . especially British English a ripe smell is strong and unpleasant – used humorously:
We were pretty ripe after a week of walking.
—ripeness noun [uncountable]
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THESAURUS
▪ ready [not before noun] having done everything that needs to be done in order to prepare for something:
Are you ready? The taxi’s here.
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I don’t feel that I’m ready for the test yet.
▪ prepared [not before noun] ready to deal with a situation, because you are expecting it or have made careful preparations:
The police were prepared for trouble.
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The team looked well-prepared for the game.
▪ be all set to be ready to start doing something that you have planned to do, and be just about to do it:
We were all set for a barbecue when it started to rain.
▪ be good to go American English informal be ready to start doing something after completing all the necessary preparations:
We just need to get you a pair of skis and you’re good to go.
▪ ripe ripe fruit are soft, sweet, and ready to eat:
Don’t pick the apples until they’re really ripe.
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a delicious ripe plum
▪ be in place if the arrangements or the equipment for doing something are in place, they are ready to start being used:
The television cameras were in place for the wedding.
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All the arrangements are in place for a new constitution and democratic elections.
▪ be standing by if people are standing by, they are ready to take action and help if they are needed – used especially about medical teams, police, the army etc:
Officers in full riot gear were standing by outside the police station.
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Several ambulances were standing by.