Definition

Not fully developed or ready to eat; usually refers to fruit or vegetables that have not yet reached their ideal state for consumption.

Example

The unripe bananas were too hard to eat.

Conversation

Have you tried the new fruit from the market yet?

Not yet, I heard it’s still unripe right now.

Yeah, I saw some people buying it, but I think I’ll wait.

Good idea! It’s better to have it when it’s fully ripe.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Unripe → It is formed from "un-" (meaning not) and "ripe" (from Old English "rīpe", meaning mature or ready for harvest). The word "unripe" means not yet mature or ready for harvest.

Memory Tip

Think of something that is 'not' ('un-') yet 'mature' ('ripe') — that's why unripe describes something that isn't ready.

Visually Confused Words