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
- unrationed adjective
Etymology
Origin of ration
First recorded in 1540–50; from French, from Latin ratiōn- (stem of ratiō ); reason
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.
South Sudan has started to ration electricity in its capital, Juba, while Zimbabwe is increasing the ethanol content in its petrol.
From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026
South Sudan has started to ration electricity in its capital, Juba.
From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026
Soldiers burn on average over 7,000 calories in this cold when doing only moderate exercise, far surpassing even the most energy-intensive ration packs.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 23, 2026
On Sunday, Deputy Prime Minster Oscar Perez-Oliva Fraga announced a set of emergency measures to ration whatever fuel is left to "protect essential services for the population and indispensable economic activities."
From Barron's • Feb. 9, 2026
Hungry as he was, he would not move to receive his ration of fish, which François had to bring to him.
From "The Call of the Wild" by Jack London
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.
