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

“We were born in the Second World War, 1944 and we had rations — we were living on suet and you were living on steak here,” Daltrey said in his own interview.

From Los Angeles Times

The trade body said that was about half of that produced in 1990 and similar to production levels seen when rationing was still in place following the World War Two.

From BBC

They had enough provisions to last 150 days, but Lachlan said they started rationing their supplies in the final few weeks just in case of further delays in reaching Australia.

From BBC

For a while, I was rationing out my friend Taffy Akner’s last book, “Long Island Compromise.”

From Los Angeles Times

In the platypus attendant's logbook, the interns found evidence that his rations en route were being decreased as some of the worms began to perish.

From BBC

Related Words

• allot 
• conserve 
• give out 
• restrict