Maturity approaching
Latest answer — August 20, 2026
29 Across
Scroll down for rest of crossword answers
Clue explained
RIPER is the comparative form of “ripe,” meaning more mature. “Approaching maturity” describes something becoming riper.
- Clue type:
- Word form
NYT Crossword
This clue's Thursday, August 20, 2026 appearance
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The answer to “Maturity approaching” in the New York Times crossword is RIPER — a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on August 20, 2026, a Thursday puzzle, at 29-Across. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.
“Maturity approaching” answer
RIPER (5 letters)
Reveal the solution one letter at a time with the tiles above if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Just want it outright? The answer is RIPER.
What does RIPER mean?
Reading the plain dictionary sense of RIPER is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.
(adjective)
- (of fruit or grain) developed to the point of readiness for harvesting and eating
- having arrived at the fitting stage or time for a particular action or purpose
- (of a person's age) advanced
When else has “Maturity approaching” appeared?
New York Times reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.
August 20, 2026 (most recent) → RIPER. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.
Frequently asked questions
What is the answer to “Maturity approaching”?
The answer is RIPER, a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on August 20, 2026.
How many letters is the answer to “Maturity approaching”?
5 letters: RIPER.
When did this clue appear?
Most recently in the New York Times crossword on August 20, 2026 (a Thursday puzzle), at 29-Across.
Can “Maturity approaching” have a different answer?
Yes — New York Times sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.
Where can I find the rest of this day's NYT Crossword answers?
The full grid for August 20, 2026 is on the NYT Crossword answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.
New York Times Crossword is published by The New York Times; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.
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