overripe

adjective

over·​ripe ˌō-vər-ˈrīp How to pronounce overripe (audio)
ˌō-və-
1
: passed beyond maturity or ripeness toward decay
an overripe pear
2
a
b
: lacking originality or vigor
overripe prose
over-ripeness noun

Examples of overripe in a Sentence

an overripe artist whose abstract paintings are no longer considered fresh or significant
Recent Examples on the Web At its proudly overripe heart, the series is a gothic domestic soap—Lifetime themes gussied up in Southern finery. Inkoo Kang, The New Yorker, 31 Oct. 2022 But at the end of 2021, S&P profits already looked overripe. Shawn Tully, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2022 Your standard kelewele recipe calls for chopping an overripe plantain into bite-size pieces and coating it in a blend of garlic, ginger, onion, crushed red pepper, and other spices before frying it in sizzling oil. Adjoa D. Danso, Bon Appétit, 2 Nov. 2021 Check your raspberry patch and harvest every few days to avoid overripe fruit that attracts picnic beetles and other pests. Melinda Myers, Star Tribune, 30 July 2021 Chilling your tomatoes can cause loss of sweetness and texture but is an option if the tomatoes are overripe (and always refrigerate a tomato that has been cut). Patricia S York, Southern Living, 2 June 2021 In cooler vintages, when the grapes are not so overripe, this wine should excel. Washington Post, 30 Apr. 2021 At any given moment in any given store, the avocados might be overripe, the organic carrots sold out, the fancy olive oil moved from its normal location to a new display. Johana Bhuiyan, chicagotribune.com, 31 Aug. 2020 The wines are full-bodied but not at all overripe or forced, to use Thera’s term. Eric Asimov, New York Times, 27 Feb. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'overripe.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of overripe was in 1605

Dictionary Entries Near overripe

Cite this Entry

“Overripe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overripe. Accessed 20 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

overripe

adjective
over·​ripe -ˈrīp How to pronounce overripe (audio)
: passed beyond ripeness toward decay
an overripe pear
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