Mature vs. Ripe — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on November 3, 2023
Mature refers to full development in organisms or character, while ripe specifically describes fruit or grain at peak edibility.
Difference Between Mature and Ripe
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
Maturity can refer to a state of being fully developed physically, mentally, or emotionally. It encompasses an individual's growth and development over time, reaching a level of complexity or stability. Ripeness, however, is more narrowly defined and is often used in an agricultural context to describe the moment when a fruit or vegetable has reached its fullest flavor and is ready for consumption.
A mature person is considered to be fully grown and developed, with a composed and developed sense of judgment. This maturity doesn't necessarily apply to consumables. Ripe, on the other hand, is not typically used to describe people. It refers to the optimal point of development in terms of taste and texture for consumables, particularly fruits or vegetables, indicating they are ready to eat or harvest.
In non-living contexts, mature can describe the advanced stages of processes or products, suggesting they are fully thought out, refined, or aged to a state of readiness or completion. Ripe in these contexts might refer to the peak condition or moment for action or decision, implying that the timing is right, rather than referring to development.
Furthermore, maturity can have a psychological component, referring to an individual's ability to respond to the environment in an appropriate manner. This contrasts with ripeness, which lacks this psychological aspect and focuses solely on the physical qualities that signal the readiness for consumption or use.
Lastly, maturity often carries positive connotations of wisdom and responsibility, whereas ripeness is a neutral term that merely states the condition of an object, most often food, without a value judgment on its overall qualities or the process it has undergone to reach this state.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Primary Context
Developmental growth, emotional stability.
Agricultural peak condition, edibility.
Common Associations
Age, wisdom, completeness.
Harvest, flavor, readiness.
Use for Non-living Things
Products, processes, systems.
Moments, opportunities.
Psychological Implication
Reflects mental or emotional development.
Does not imply psychological aspects.
Value Connotation
Often positive, suggesting responsibility.
Neutral, related to condition or timing.
Compare with Definitions
Mature
Fully developed physically.
The athlete is mature for his age.
Ripe
Fruit or grain developed to the point of readiness for eating.
The apples were ripe and ready to be picked.
Mature
Describing a market or economy that has reached full development.
The mature industry was resistant to change.
Ripe
Characterized by the best time to do something.
The time is ripe for investment in the technology sector.
Mature
Having reached full natural growth or development
A mature cell.
Ripe
Fully developed; mature
Ripe peaches.
Mature
Having reached a desired or final condition; ripe
A mature cheese.
Ripe
Sufficiently advanced in preparation or aging to be used or eaten
Ripe cheese.
Mature
Having or showing characteristics, such as patience and prudence, considered typical of well-balanced adulthood
Mature for her age.
Ripe
Thoroughly matured, as by study or experience; seasoned
Ripe judgment.
Mature
Suitable or intended for adults
Mature subject matter.
Ripe
Advanced in years
The ripe age of 90.
Mature
Composed of adults
A mature audience.
Ripe
Fully prepared to do or undergo something; ready
"By 1965 the republic was ripe for a coup" (Alex Shoumatoff).
Mature
Worked out fully by the mind; considered
A mature plan of action.
Ripe
Sufficiently advanced; opportune
The time is ripe for great societal changes.
Mature
Having reached the limit of its time; due
A mature bond.
Ripe
Sensuous and full
Ripe lips.
Mature
No longer subject to great expansion or development. Used of an industry, market, or product.
Ripe
Coarse or indecent; vulgar
The comic's ripe language.
Mature
(Geology) Having reached maximum development of form. Used of streams and landforms.
Ripe
Emitting a foul odor
"the dirt and stench ... the mountains of ripe bushmeat in every camp" (Bryan Mealer).
Mature
To bring to full development; ripen.
Ripe
(of fruits, vegetables, seeds etc.) Ready for reaping or gathering; having attained perfection; mature
Ripe grain
Ripe apples
Mature
To work out fully in the mind
"able to digest and mature my thoughts for my own mind only" (John Stuart Mill).
Ripe
(of foods) Advanced to the state of fitness for use; mellow
Ripe cheese
Ripe wine
Mature
To evolve toward or reach full development
The child's judgment matures as she grows older.
Ripe
(figuratively) Having attained its full development; mature; perfected
Mature
To become due. Used of notes and bonds.
Ripe
(archaic) Maturated or suppurated; ready to discharge said of sores, tumors, etc.
Mature
Fully developed; grown up in terms of physical appearance, behaviour or thinking; ripe.
She is quite mature for her age.
The excellent mature eggplants grown in the garden plot are quickly being being picked up by family and friends.
Ripe
Ready for action or effect; prepared.
Mature
Brought to a state of complete readiness.
A mature plan
Ripe
Like ripened fruit in ruddiness and plumpness.
Mature
Profound; careful.
The headmaster decided to expel the boy after a mature consideration.
Ripe
(obsolete) Intoxicated.
Mature
Come to, or in a state of, completed suppuration.
Ripe
(law) Of a conflict between parties, having developed to a stage where the conflict may be reviewed by a court of law.
Mature
Suitable for adults only, due to sexual themes, violence, etc.
Mature content
Ripe
Smelly: having a disagreeable odor.
Mature
(intransitive) To proceed toward maturity: full development or completion (either of concrete or of abstract things, e.g. plans, judgments, qualities).
Ripe
(agriculture) A fruit or vegetable which has ripened.
Mature
To attain maturity, to become mature or ripe.
Ripe
The bank of a river.
Mature
(transitive) To bring (something) to maturity, full development, or completion.
Ripe
To ripen or mature
Mature
(transitive) To make (something, e.g. fruit) ripe or mature.
Ripe
To search; to rummage.
Mature
To proceed toward or become mature or full-grown, either physically or psychologically; to gain experience or wisdom with age.
Ripe
The bank of a river.
Mature
(transitive) To make (someone) mature.
Ripe
Ready for reaping or gathering; having attained perfection; mature; - said of fruits, seeds, etc.; as, ripe grain.
So mayst thou live, till, like ripe fruit, thou dropInto thy mother's lap.
Mature
To reach the date when payment is due.
When the bond matures, the full face value is payable to its bearer.
Ripe
Advanced to the state of fitness for use; mellow; as, ripe cheese; ripe wine.
Mature
Brought by natural process to completeness of growth and development; fitted by growth and development for any function, action, or state, appropriate to its kind; full-grown; ripe.
Now is love mature in ear.
How shall I meet, or how accost, the sage,Unskilled in speech, nor yet mature of age?
Ripe
Having attained its full development; mature; perfected; consummate.
He was a scholar, and a ripe and good one.
Mature
Completely worked out; fully digested or prepared; ready for action; made ready for destined application or use; perfected; as, a mature plan.
This lies glowing, . . . and is almost mature for the violent breaking out.
Ripe
Maturated or suppurated; ready to discharge; - said of sores, tumors, etc.
Mature
Of or pertaining to a condition of full development; as, a man of mature years.
Ripe
Ready for action or effect; prepared.
While things were just ripe for a war.
I am not ripe to pass sentence on the gravest public bodies.
Mature
Come to, or in a state of, completed suppuration.
Ripe
Like ripened fruit in ruddiness and plumpness.
Those happy smilets,That played on her ripe lip.
Mature
To bring or hasten to maturity; to promote ripeness in; to ripen; to complete; as, to mature one's plans.
Ripe
Intoxicated.
Mature
To advance toward maturity; to become ripe; as, wine matures by age; the judgment matures by age and experience.
Ripe
To ripen; to grow ripe.
Mature
Hence, to become due, as a note.
Ripe
To mature; to ripen.
Mature
Develop and reach maturity; undergo maturation;
He matured fast
The child grew fast
Ripe
Fully developed or matured and ready to be eaten or used;
Ripe peaches
Full-bodies mature wines
Mature
Develop and work out fully in one's mind;
I need to mature my thoughts
Ripe
Fully prepared or eager;
The colonists were ripe for revolution
Mature
Become due for repayment;
These bonds mature in 2005
Ripe
Most suitable or right for a particular purpose;
A good time to plant tomatoes
The right time to act
The time is ripe for great sociological changes
Mature
Cause to ripen or develop fully;
The sun ripens the fruit
Age matures a good wine
Ripe
At the highest point of development especially in judgment or knowledge;
A ripe mind
Mature
Grow old or older;
She aged gracefully
We age every day--what a depressing thought!
Young men senesce
Ripe
Far along in time;
A man of advanced age
Advanced in years
A ripe old age
The ripe age of 90
Mature
Cause to ripen and discharge pus;
The oil suppurates the pustules
Ripe
Describing conditions as being fully or overly ready.
The ripe smell of compost permeated the air.
Mature
Characteristic of maturity;
Mature for her age
Ripe
Slang for something being in an extreme or exaggerated state.
His jokes were ripe with sarcasm.
Mature
Fully considered and perfected;
Mature plans
Ripe
Describing a sound as rich and full.
The orchestra's ripe tones filled the concert hall.
Mature
Having reached full natural growth or development;
A mature cell
Mature
Fully developed or matured and ready to be eaten or used;
Ripe peaches
Full-bodies mature wines
Mature
(of birds) having developed feathers or plumage; often used in combination
Mature
Emotionally stable and responsible.
Her mature decision reflected her deep understanding of the situation.
Mature
Having reached the most advanced stage in a process.
The mature wine had a complex flavor profile.
Mature
Describing content suitable for adults only.
The film is rated mature due to its content.
Common Curiosities
Is mature a compliment?
Often yes, it suggests responsibility and growth.
Can businesses be mature?
Yes, it means they're established with stable growth.
Can wine be ripe?
We usually use mature for wine, meaning well-aged.
Can a person be described as ripe?
It's not common; ripe usually describes fruit or timing, not people.
Can I use ripe to describe someone's age?
No, ripe refers to conditions, not age.
Can cheese be mature?
Yes, mature cheese has been aged to develop flavor.
Do all fruits become ripe?
Most do, indicating they're ready to eat.
Is mature content suitable for children?
No, it's intended for adults.
What makes a person mature?
Age, experience, and emotional development.
Is maturity subjective?
It can be, especially emotional maturity.
Are ripe and mature interchangeable in gardening?
No, mature plants may not have ripe fruit.
Can a decision be ripe?
Yes, if it's the right time to make it.
Can you eat unripe fruit?
Yes, but it may not taste good or be hard to digest.
Is there ripe music?
No, but we can describe music as rich or full, not ripe.
Does mature mean old?
Not necessarily, it can mean developed regardless of age.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Proves vs. Proofs
Next Comparison
Jumpers vs. RompersAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
