Definition

In a way that something is not fully developed or mature, often referring to fruit or other natural products that are not ready to be eaten.

Example

The fruit was picked unripely, so it was too sour to eat.

Conversation

Did you try the new fruit smoothie at the café?

Yeah, but the bananas tasted a bit unripely to me.

I noticed that too; they should have waited longer to use them.

Definitely! It would have made the smoothie so much better.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Unripely → It is formed from "un-" (meaning not) and "ripe" (from Old English "rīpe", meaning fully developed or matured) and the suffix "-ly" (meaning in a manner). The word "unripely" means in a manner that is not fully developed or matured.

Memory Tip

Think of 'not' ('un-') being added to 'ripe', which means fully developed, to remember that 'unripely' describes something that is not yet mature.

Visually Confused Words