gereift

Gereift is a German adjective meaning fully developed or mature, and it also serves as the past participle of the verb reifen, “to ripen.” It describes things that have reached their intended level of development or readiness, including fruits, vegetables, wine, cheese, and other products, as well as people or ideas that have attained emotional or intellectual maturity.

In usage, gereift connotes a positive progression through time. It is often used for tangible items that improve with aging, and in a broader sense for persons or concepts that have gained experience or refinement. The term ausgereift is closely related and emphasizes fullest, tested development, frequently in technical, design, or planning contexts. The contrast with unreif (unripe) or unerfahren (inexperienced) helps clarify the stage of maturity being described.

Examples can illustrate its range: Der Käse ist gereift und hat einen intensiven Geschmack. Die Idee ist gereift und lässt sich jetzt umsetzen. Er ist eine gereifte Persönlichkeit geworden, die Gelassenheit und Erfahrung ausstrahlt. In literary oder journalistic usage, gereift can carry a nuanced, evaluative tone about the passage of time and acquired quality.

See also: reifen, reife, ausgereift, unreif.