ration
noun
ra·tion
| \ ˈra-shən
, ˈrā-
\
, ˈrā-
\
Definition of ration
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a
: a food allowance for one day
2
: a share especially as determined by supply
ration
verb
rationed;
rationing\ ˈra-sh(ə-)niŋ
, ˈrā- \
, ˈrā- \
Definition of ration (Entry 2 of 2)
1
: to supply with or put on rations
2a
: to distribute as rations
—often used with out
b
: to distribute equitably
c
: to use sparingly
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Synonyms for ration
Synonyms: Verb
allocate, allot, allow, apportion, assign, distribute, lot
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Examples of ration in a Sentence
Noun
The soldiers were given their rations for the day. The horse was fed its ration of oats. weekly sugar and butter rationsVerb
During the war, the government rationed gasoline. the region has had to ration water during times of drought
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
Several of these improvised camp sites are scattered around Auroa, and this is where players craft rations, change classes and make healing supplies before heading to battle. — Gieson Cacho, The Mercury News, "Preview: ‘Ghost Recon Breakpoint’ refines co-op experience with the right group," 3 Sep. 2019 In order to raise the money to buy back their son's freedom, the family sold their entire three-month ration of rice. — Leif Coorlim And Thomas Page, CNN, "Stolen son: The child traffickers preying on the Rohingya," 31 Aug. 2019 Anyone not travelling could exchange their flight kilometers for money, but anyone exceeding their ration could be fined or banned from flying for some time. — Keith Baker, Quartz, "Four bold visions for the future of flying," 20 Aug. 2019 An officer let in several people at a time to buy their ration: two packages of chicken each. — José De Córdoba, WSJ, "Cuba Ration Lines Grow Tense as Economy Flails," 21 June 2019 Someone points out a nearby grave of a young man whose motorcycle crashed en route to get his monthly rations from the food distribution center. — Nina Strochlic, National Geographic, "Mourning refugees risk a war zone to bury their dead at home," 20 June 2019 Maria passes her ration book through the prison-like bars of the tiny shop window, and receives her prize in return. — Anastasia Miari, 1843, "Magic grannies are stopping Cuba going hungry," 7 Aug. 2019 The women also cracked down on men selling their family’s aid cards—used to get weekly food rations, like rice, oil, salt, onion, and other necessities—for yaba, a mixture of methamphetamine and caffeine. — Jennifer Chowdhury, Marie Claire, "Rohingya Women Aren't Just Refugees—They're Leaders," 9 July 2019 The two main dishes are already built into flameless ration heaters similar to those used by the U.S. military. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "YouTube’s Army Ration Taste-Tester Has Reviewed Rations Across Three Centuries," 10 Apr. 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
The deaths of two young men who were unable to afford insulin and rationed their supplies weighed on lawmakers who met at the Capitol to consider a path forward for the plan. — Dana Ferguson, Twin Cities, "‘This is a life or death issue’: Advocates urge lawmakers to act on emergency insulin," 14 Aug. 2019 The second mode, used most of the time, would ration consumption of AdBlue and produce higher emissions. — New York Times, "‘A Few Dirty Tricks’: Documents Show Audi’s Role in the Volkswagen Emissions Scandal," 26 July 2019 Staff were told that disposable briefs would be rationed to two per patient per shift, instead of as needed, meaning patients were left to languish in their own body waste. — NBC News, "A nursing home chain grows too fast and collapses, and elderly and disabled residents pay the price," 19 July 2019 Cuba will ration sales of basic goods, officials said, as tighter U.S. sanctions and the economic implosion of key ally Venezuela puts further pressure on the Communist regime to import food staples. — José De Córdoba, WSJ, "Cuba Plans to Ration Sales of Basic Food Items," 12 May 2019 And long-available drugs like insulin have seen price serial increases that forced some people with diabetes to ration their own doses. — Fortune, "Trump Administration to Allow Americans to Get Cheaper Drugs from Canada," 31 July 2019 And long-available drugs like insulin have seen serial price increases that forced some people with diabetes to ration their own doses. — Ricardo Alonso-zaldivar, Twin Cities, "US to set up plan allowing prescription meds from Canada," 31 July 2019 And long-available drugs like insulin have also seen price increases that have forced some people with diabetes to ration their own doses. — chicagotribune.com, "U.S. to set up plan allowing lower-cost prescription drugs from Canada," 31 July 2019 And long-available drugs like insulin have seen serial price increases that forced some people with diabetes to ration their own doses. — Ricardo Alonso-zaldivar, The Denver Post, "U.S. sets up first-ever plan allowing prescription drugs from Canada," 31 July 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ration.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for ration
ration
noun
English Language Learners Definition of ration
(Entry 1 of 2)
: a particular amount of food that is given to one person or animal for one day
: food or supplies
: a particular amount of something (such as gasoline or food) that the government allows you to have when there is not enough of it
ration
verbEnglish Language Learners Definition of ration (Entry 2 of 2)
: to control the amount of (something, such as gasoline or food) that people are allowed to have especially when there is not enough of it
See the full definition for ration in the English Language Learners Dictionary
ration
noun
ra·tion
| \ ˈra-shən
, ˈrā-shən\
, ˈrā-shən\
Kids Definition of ration
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
: a food allowance for one day
3
: the amount each person is allowed by an authority
The government set a gas ration.