Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense rations, present participle rationing, past tense, past participle rationed
1. countable noun
When there is not enough of something, your ration of it is the amount that you are allowed to have.
The meat ration was down to one pound per person per week.
They have begun to issue ration cards for basic necessities such as rice and flour.
Synonyms: allowance, quota, allotment, provision More Synonyms of ration
2. verb
When something is rationed by a person or government, you are only allowed to have a limited amount of it, usually because there is not enough of it.
Staples such as bread, rice and tea are already being rationed. [beVERB-ed]
...the decision to ration food. [VERB noun]
Motorists will be rationed to thirty litres of petrol a month. [beVERB-ed + to]
There's a black market in rationed goods. [VERB-ed]
[Also VERB noun + to]
Synonyms: limit, control, restrict, save More Synonyms of ration
3. plural noun
Rations are the food which is given to people who do not have enough food or to soldiers.
The first emergency food rations were handed out here last month.
The enemy soldiers sampled the officers' rations and wolfed down the superior food.
4. countable noun
Your rationof something is the amount of it that you normally have.
I'm wondering if it's too early to eat my ration of dark chocolate. [+ of]
5. See also rationing
More Synonyms of ration
ration in British English
(ˈræʃən)
noun
1.
a.
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
b.
(as modifier)
a ration book
2.
a sufficient or adequate amount
you've had your ration of screen time for today
verb(transitive)
3. (often foll by out)
to distribute (provisions), esp to an army
4.
to restrict the distribution or consumption of (a commodity) by (people)
the government rationed sugar
sugar is short, so I'll have to ration you
Word origin
C18: via French from Latin ratiō calculation; see reason
ration in American English
(ˈræʃən; ˈreɪʃən)
noun
1.
a fixed portion; share; allowance
2.
a fixed allowance or allotment of food or provisions, esp. a fixed daily allowance, as for a soldier
3. [pl.]
food or food supply, as for soldiers, explorers, etc.
verb transitive
4.
to supply with a ration or rations
5.
to distribute (food, clothing, etc.) in rations, as in times of scarcity
SIMILAR WORDS: food
Word origin
MFr < ML ratio, ration < L, a reckoning: see reason
COBUILD Collocations
ration
meagre rations
Examples of 'ration' in a sentence
ration
Free healthcare and education were of little comfort when food rationing and poverty were all around.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Other posters encouraged buying war bonds, rationing or aid to refugees and soldiers.
Smithsonian Mag (2017)
A weekly ration of meat, she suggests, would cause less friction and inconvenience.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This nearly covered the cost of our weekly meat ration.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Over the following weeks his condition was monitored and the emergency rations gradually began to take effect.
The Sun (2012)
The present display provides meagre rations of all three.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
What we did have was ration books and the freedom to roam.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
This may mean rationing the air time of particularly garrulous individuals.
O'Connor, Joseph & Seymour, John Training with N.L.P. (1994)
There was a further echo of war recently when rationing was reintroduced across the county.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
He had only a basic needs pack and emergency rations.
The Sun (2011)
The continued rationing of food was one way of sharing out what was essentially in short supply.
Grenville, J. A. S. The Collins History of the World in the 20th Century (1994)
Riders fought for the meagre rations inside the small café.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
It sometimes rations certain numbers already.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Each house had a ration book.
Carlos Acosta No Way Home: A Cuban Dancer's Tale (2007)
Many of my fellow carers complained about small cost savings such as rationing in the amount of cleaning foam we could use.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Malaysia has begun to ration the oil and India is poised to cut import duties.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The official ration allowance of twenty-four ounces of rice and vegetables a day was seldom issued.
Max Hastings Nemesis: The Battle for Japan, 194445 (2007)
In many areas, treatments such as hip operations are already being rationed.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
They were served a banquet of knowledge; we had basic rations.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Did she just think her trousers had shrunk, or she had been scoffing too many army rations?
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
They were down to two weeks' rations by mid-June.
Aidan Hartley THE ZANZIBAR CHEST: A Memoir of Love and War (2003)
What began as a protest by opponents of the Government against electricity rationing slipped into violence and clashes with troops, with rioters blocking main roads.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
In other languages
ration
British English: ration NOUN
When there is not enough of something, your ration of it is the amount that you are allowed to have.
The government has been distributing food rations for the past two months.
American English: ration
Brazilian Portuguese: ração
Chinese: > 配给量物资紧缺时的
European Spanish: ración
French: ration
German: Ration
Italian: razione
Japanese: 配給量
Korean: 배급량
European Portuguese: ração
Latin American Spanish: ración
British English: ration VERB
When something is rationed by a person or government, you are only allowed to have a limited amount of it, usually because there is not enough of it.
Staples such as bread, rice, and tea are already being rationed.
American English: ration
Brazilian Portuguese: racionar
Chinese: > 配给物资紧缺时的
European Spanish: racionar
French: rationner
German: rationieren
Italian: razionare
Japanese: 配給する
Korean: >공급량을 제한하다특히 식량이 부족한 시기에
European Portuguese: racionar
Latin American Spanish: racionar
All related terms of 'ration'
C ration
a canned ration used in the field in WWII
K ration
a small package containing emergency rations used by US and Allied forces in the field in World War II
ration book
a book showing an individual's entitlement to certain rationed goods
ration card
a card showing an individual's entitlement to certain rationed goods
ration coupon
a coupon that can be exchanged for a certain quantity of rationed goods
Chinese translation of 'ration'
ration
(ˈræʃən)
n(c)
(= allowance)[of food, petrol etc]配给(給)限额(額) (pèijǐ xiàn'é)
vt
[food, petrol etc]定量供应(應) (dìngliàng gōngyìng)
Derived Forms
rationsn pl (Mil) 口粮(糧) (kǒuliáng)
(noun)
Definition
a fixed allowance of something that is scarce, such as food or petrol in wartime
The meat ration was down to one pound per person per week.
Synonyms
allowance
I weighed out my allowance of sugar.
quota
The quota of four tickets per person had been reduced to two.
allotment
His meagre allotment of gas had to be saved for emergencies.
provision
helping
extra helpings of ice-cream
part
A large part of his earnings went on repaying the bank loan.
share
I have had more than my share of adventures.
measure
The colonies were claiming a larger measure of self-government.
dole
They held their plates out for a dole of food.
portion
his portion of the inheritance
(plural noun)
Definition
a fixed daily allowance of food, such as that given to a soldier
emergency food rations
Synonyms
supplies
stores
provisions
necessities
food
commons (British)
kai (New Zealand, informal)
provender
1 (verb)
Definition
to restrict the distribution of (something)
Staples such as bread, rice and tea are already being rationed.
Synonyms
limit
He limited payments on the country's foreign debt.
control
The government tried to control rising health-care costs.
restrict
a move to restrict the number of students on campus at any one time
save
The majority of people intend to save.
budget
I'm learning how to budget my finances.
conserve
an increase in aid to help countries conserve their forests
2 (verb)
Definition
to distribute a fixed amount of something to each person in a group
I had a flask so I rationed out cups of tea.
Synonyms
distribute
He began to distribute jobs among his friends.
issue
He issued a statement denying the allegations.
deal
dole
allocate
Tickets will be allocated to those who apply first.
give out
allot
We were allotted half an hour to address the committee.
mete
apportion
They are even-handed in apportioning the blame.
measure out
parcel out
Additional synonyms
in the sense of allocate
Definition
to assign to someone or for a particular purpose
Tickets will be allocated to those who apply first.
Synonyms
assign,
grant,
distribute,
designate,
set aside,
earmark,
give out,
consign,
allow,
budget,
allot,
mete,
share out,
apportion,
appropriate
in the sense of allot
Definition
to assign as a share or for a particular purpose
We were allotted half an hour to address the committee.
Synonyms
assign,
allocate,
designate,
set aside,
earmark,
mete,
share out,
apportion,
budget,
appropriate
in the sense of allotment
His meagre allotment of gas had to be saved for emergencies.
Synonyms
assignment,
share,
measure,
grant,
allowance,
portion,
quota,
lot,
ration,
allocation,
stint,
appropriation,
stipend,
apportionment
Synonyms of 'ration'
ration
Explore 'ration' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of apportion
Definition
to divide out in shares
They are even-handed in apportioning the blame.
Synonyms
divide,
share,
deal,
distribute,
assign,
allocate,
dispense,
give out,
allot,
mete out,
dole out,
measure out,
parcel out,
ration out
in the sense of budget
Definition
to plan the expenditure of (money or time)
I'm learning how to budget my finances.
Synonyms
plan,
estimate,
allocate,
cost,
ration,
apportion,
cost out
in the sense of conserve
Definition
to protect from harm, decay, or loss
an increase in aid to help countries conserve their forests
Synonyms
protect,
keep,
save,
preserve
in the sense of control
Definition
to limit or restrain
The government tried to control rising health-care costs.
Synonyms
limit,
restrict,
curb,
delimit
in the sense of dole
They held their plates out for a dole of food.
Synonyms
share,
grant,
gift,
allowance,
portion,
donation,
quota,
parcel,
handout,
modicum,
pittance,
alms,
gratuity,
koha (New Zealand)
in the sense of helping
Definition
a single portion of food
extra helpings of ice-cream
Synonyms
portion,
serving,
ration,
piece,
dollop (informal),
plateful
in the sense of issue
Definition
to publish
He issued a statement denying the allegations.
Synonyms
give out,
release,
publish,
announce,
deliver,
spread,
broadcast,
distribute,
communicate,
proclaim,
put out,
circulate,
emit,
impart,
disseminate,
promulgate,
put in circulation
in the sense of measure
Definition
the size, quantity, or degree of something, as discovered by measurement or calculation
The colonies were claiming a larger measure of self-government.
Synonyms
quantity,
share,
amount,
degree,
reach,
range,
size,
capacity,
extent,
proportion,
allowance,
portion,
scope,
quota,
ration,
magnitude,
allotment,
amplitude
in the sense of part
Definition
a piece or portion
A large part of his earnings went on repaying the bank loan.
Synonyms
piece,
share,
proportion,
percentage,
lot,
bit,
section,
sector,
slice,
scrap,
particle,
segment,
portion,
fragment,
lump,
fraction,
chunk,
wedge
in the sense of portion
Definition
a part belonging to a person or group
his portion of the inheritance
Synonyms
share,
division,
allowance,
lot,
measure,
quantity,
quota,
ration,
allocation,
allotment
Additional synonyms
in the sense of quota
Definition
the prescribed number or quantity allowed, required, or admitted
The quota of four tickets per person had been reduced to two.
Synonyms
share,
allowance,
ration,
allocation,
part,
cut (informal),
limit,
proportion,
slice,
quantity,
portion,
assignment,
whack (informal),
dispensation
in the sense of restrict
Definition
to confine or keep within certain limits
a move to restrict the number of students on campus at any one time
Synonyms
limit,
fix,
regulate,
specify,
curb,
ration,
keep within bounds or limits
in the sense of save
Definition
to set aside or reserve (money or goods) for future use
The majority of people intend to save.
Synonyms
budget,
be economical,
economize,
scrimp and save,
retrench,
be frugal,
make economies,
be thrifty,
tighten your belt (informal),
watch your pennies,
draw in your horns
in the sense of share
Definition
a part or portion of something that belongs to or is contributed by a person or group