ration

[rash-uhn, rey-shuhn]

noun

1. a fixed allowance of provisions or food, especially for soldiers or sailors or for civilians during a shortage.

   a daily ration of meat and bread.

   Synonyms: allotment, portion

2. an allotted amount.

   They finally saved up enough gas rations for the trip.

   Synonyms: allotment, portion

3. rations,

   1. provisions.

      Enough rations were brought along to feed all the marchers.

   2. Chiefly South Atlantic States.,  food or meals.

      The old hotel still has the best rations in town.

verb (used with object)

1. to supply, apportion, or distribute as rations (often followed byout ).

   to ration out food to an army.

   Synonyms: allot, dole, mete

2. to supply or provide with rations.

   to ration an army with food.

3. to restrict the consumption of (a commodity, food, etc.).

   to ration meat during war.

4. to restrict the consumption of (a consumer).

   The civilian population was rationed while the war lasted.

ration

/ ˈræʃən /

noun

1. 1. a fixed allowance of food, provisions, etc, esp a statutory one for civilians in time of scarcity or soldiers in time of war

      a tea ration

   2. ( as modifier )

      a ration book

2. a sufficient or adequate amount

   you've had your ration of television for today

verb

1. (often foll by out) to distribute (provisions), esp to an army

2. to restrict the distribution or consumption of (a commodity) by (people)

   the government has rationed sugar

   sugar is short, so I'll have to ration you

Other Word Forms

• unrationed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ration¹

First recorded in 1540–50; from French, from Latin ratiōn- (stem of ratiō ); reason

Word History and Origins

Origin of ration¹

C18: via French from Latin ratiō calculation; see _reason

Synonym Study

See food.

Example Sentences

Ukraine has struck Russian energy infrastructure throughout the nearly four-year war but has intensified its attacks in recent months, causing petrol prices to spike and forcing some regions to introduce fuel rationing.

Read more on Barron's

In his testimony, Mohammed said meals in the prison are “extremely insufficient,” going on to describe meager rations with “tiny pieces of bread” and “undercooked, dry rice.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Theirs was a generation that had come through the war and been obliged to learn a new way of living: In these stories you will find references to ration books, refugees and firebombs.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

This summer, the matcha dealer called to say that after a decade of importing from Japan, she had been forced to start rationing supply.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Newsom, in a statement Thursday, said that Californians shouldn’t “ration insulin or go into debt to stay alive.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• allot 
• conserve 
• give out 
• restrict