ripe
adj.adj. ready to be eaten or used. You use this for fruit that is soft and sweet, or for a time that is perfect for something to happen.
adj. fully developed and ready for consumption or harvest. Often describes fruit at peak sweetness, or metaphorically, a situation or time that is optimal for a specific action.
The bananas are yellow and ripe enough to eat.
Wait until the tomatoes are bright red and slightly soft, as they are only truly ripe when they pull away from the vine easily.
The political climate was ripe for reform, as years of economic stagnation had left the public eager for any significant structural change.
Often followed by the preposition 'for' when used metaphorically to describe a situation ready for action.
The fruit is very ripenThe fruit is very ripeLearners often confuse the adjective 'ripe' with the verb 'ripen' or its past participle 'ripened'.