ration
Americannoun
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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.
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an allotted amount.
They finally saved up enough gas rations for the trip.
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rations,
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provisions.
Enough rations were brought along to feed all the marchers.
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Chiefly South Atlantic States. food or meals.
The old hotel still has the best rations in town.
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verb (used with object)
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to supply, apportion, or distribute as rations (often followed byout ).
to ration out food to an army.
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to supply or provide with rations.
to ration an army with food.
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to restrict the consumption of (a commodity, food, etc.).
to ration meat during war.
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to restrict the consumption of (a consumer).
The civilian population was rationed while the war lasted.
noun
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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
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( as modifier )
a ration book
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a sufficient or adequate amount
you've had your ration of television for today
verb
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(often foll by out) to distribute (provisions), esp to an army
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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
Related Words
See food.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of ration
First recorded in 1540–50; from French, from Latin ratiōn- (stem of ratiō ); see reason
Explanation
When you ration your supplies, you dole them out a little at a time. A ration is also a wartime military meal, or the portion of food that someone is allowed in times of scarcity. A ration is the fixed portion of food or other goods allowed to each person in times of shortages. In the military, a soldier’s meal is called a ration, especially if it’s portable. As a verb, to ration something is to allow each person to have only a specific amount. During times of war many things have been rationed: gas, rubber, luxury items, and food. If you are diabetic, you need to strictly ration your sugar intake.
Vocabulary lists containing ration
The Diary of Anne Frank
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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
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List 3
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
As Joe Tigay, portfolio manager at Ration Equity Armor Fund, puts it, “the wall of worry remains formidable, but history suggests it’s worth climbing.”
From Barron's • Oct. 9, 2025
Ration packs rooted through over and over to find the good snacks.
From New York Times • Apr. 12, 2020
Closer to reality as lived by most people is a mobile app called the Ration Book.
From The Guardian • Jan. 8, 2016
Ration your food supply: it may have to last for 14 days or more.
From BBC • Nov. 3, 2015
Ration card restrictions, abysmal puddings, the deteriorating quality of fingernail varnish—these are crimes they feel in their souls.
From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
