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 by out ):

   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)

   sugar is short, so I'll have to ration you

   the government has rationed sugar

Other Words From

• un·rationed 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

The charity National Energy Action said many people were already "rationing their energy use" or building up debt to try to keep warm.

From BBC

But he added: “What we successfully avoided, was an overall rationing - to say, 'people, according to these characteristics, aren’t going to be cared for'.”

From BBC

Such was the scarcity that one of the beloved staples was a stew made from leftover military rations discarded by U.S.

From Los Angeles Times

There is some food aid, but many in the area survive by foraging for water lily roots and fish to supplement their rations.

From BBC

They caught piranha, wolf fish, sting ray, which they ate along with adventure food rations, and drank water from the river.

From BBC

Related Words

• allowance
• consignment
• quota