- present participle of ration.
rationing
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The U.S. government has engaged in rationing usually only under conditions of extreme shortage or economic hardship; certain resources were rationed, for example, during World War II.
Explanation
Rationing is carefully controlling the amount of something that people use. During World War Two, Americans participated in the rationing of food, gasoline, and other materials. When something is in short supply, like rubber and metal during the Second World War, a government will often institute rationing to save that material, making sure there's enough of it for emergencies. Rationing during the war meant that people had a specific amount of food they could buy each week, and once an item was used up, they had to wait until they got a new ration book to buy more. Ration means "hand out in fixed amounts."
Vocabulary lists containing rationing
World War I
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World War II
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Economics
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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.
There is now fuel rationing or shortages in more than 90% of Russian regions, and Russia has now banned exports of diesel.
From BBC • Jul. 9, 2026
Local authorities ordered rationing, including a system of QR codes that drivers must show to get their allotted quota of fuel.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 20, 2026
Russian oil producer Tatneft has introduced fuel rationing at hundreds of petrol stations across the country, AFP learnt on Tuesday, as increased Ukrainian attacks hit Russia's refining capacity.
From Barron's • Jun. 16, 2026
If there is to be rationing, most people would probably prefer that committed fans, with no interest in reselling, were rewarded with low-cost tickets.
From Salon • Jun. 14, 2026
Instead of the careful, responsible rationing she usually does, Mama is making breakfast like there is no war, like everything is normal.
From "Girl in the Blue Coat" by Monica Hesse
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.
