ration

American  

[rash-uhn, rey-shuhn] / ˈræʃ ən, ˈreɪ ʃən /

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.

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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 British  

/ 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

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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

Related Words

See food.

Other Word Forms

• unrationed
  adjective

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.

Example Sentences

The Atlantic Council has urged nations to ration scarce oil supplies to better manage an extended Strait of Hormuz closure.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 30, 2026

Chevron also reconfigured its Asian refineries to make them yield more fuel as Asia faces a severe shortage and has been forced to ration oil products.

From Barron's • Apr. 30, 2026

Rasoul Khalifeh Soltani, secretary of Iran’s Steel Producers Association, called on companies to ration their use of steel sheets for the next two months, according to Iranian state media.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 29, 2026

Uncollected garbage rotted in heaps, and people cued outside of bakeries for their daily government ration of bread.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 20, 2026

An Osage delegation, including the chief Wah-Ti-An-Kah, was urgently dispatched to Washington, D.C., to petition the commissioner of Indian Affairs to abolish the ration system.

From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann

Related Words

• allot
• conserve
• restrict