ration

1 of 2

noun

ra·​tion ˈra-shən How to pronounce ration (audio) ˈrā- How to pronounce ration (audio)
1
a
: a food allowance for one day
b
rations plural : food, provisions
2
: a share especially as determined by supply

ration

2 of 2

verb

rationed; rationing ˈra-sh(ə-)niŋ How to pronounce ration (audio)
ˈrā-

transitive verb

1
: to supply with or put on rations
2
a
: to distribute as rations
often used with out
b
: to distribute equitably
c
: to use sparingly

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 rations Verb During the war, the government rationed gasoline. the region has had to ration water during times of drought
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Other patients have been forced to ration or halt doses because the drugs are costly — $1,000 to $1,300 per month — and insurance coverage varies or because demand has far outstripped supply, Rothberg noted. Jonel Aleccia, Fortune, 7 Mar. 2024 Delays in military support from the West are complicating the task for Kyiv’s military tacticians, forcing troops to ration ammunition and ultimately costing the lives of Ukrainian soldiers. Stephen Groves and Lisa Mascaro, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2024 As the battle for Avdiivka intensified, Ukrainian commanders fighting in the area were forced to ration ammunition, soldiers said. Constant Méheut, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2024 One soldier said rations for his battalion ran so low that troops disguised themselves as civilians to buy food from villagers. Rebecca Tan, Washington Post, 14 Feb. 2024 Instead, such a creation could find its way into emergency food supplies in regions struck by famine or natural disaster, as well as potentially within astronaut and military rations. Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 14 Feb. 2024 The ration books that allow Cubans to buy small quantities of basic goods like rice, beans, eggs, and sugar each month for payment equivalent to a few U.S. cents continue to be the basis of the model, allowing families to subsist for about 15 days. Andrea Rodríguez, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 Nov. 2023 In recent years, Cuba’s sugar production plummeted to its lowest level in a century, the food rations distributed by the government have been reduced, and accounts of hunger and malnutrition have become commonplace on social media. Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 2 Feb. 2024 My friend Rami, a social worker sheltering in the church, told me in late December that rations were getting smaller to save food. Claire Porter Robbins, The New Yorker, 24 Jan. 2024
Verb
According to a news release from the task force, while the appeal is pending, only state funds can be used, meaning that work on the lakes and dams is rationed, starting now. Jennifer Dixon, Detroit Free Press, 5 Mar. 2024 Ukrainian forces on the front line are already rationing ammunition, forcing commanders to make tough choices. Emily Rauhala, Washington Post, 24 Feb. 2024 Currently, Kornbluth said, three out of five U.S. helium suppliers are rationing the element to prioritize life-or-death uses like MRI machines ahead of less-essential helium uses, like keeping party balloons afloat. Caroline Hopkins, NBC News, 25 Jan. 2024 As workers begin to ration out the soup in various bowls, some children clamored at the gates amid shouts and childish cheers. NBC News, 20 Jan. 2024 But the president and his aides have carefully rationed his public exposure. Doyle McManus, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2024 Illustration: Paul Horn/Inside Climate News Northern Mexico has experienced its own water crises lately, including a deadly riot at a reservoir dam in 2020 and months of water rationing in 2022 in one of the country’s largest cities. Dylan Baddour, WIRED, 27 Jan. 2024 Bread rationing marked the depths of sacrifices on the home front. Kerry J. Byrne Fox News, Fox News, 18 Jan. 2024 The lack of electricity and fuel has left Gazans to ration three liters (0.79 gallons) of water per day for cleaning, cooking, and drinking, well below then the international standard of 15 liters (3.3 gallons) needed in an emergency situation, according to the World Health Organization. Armani Syed, TIME, 24 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ration.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French, from Latin ration-, ratio computation, reason

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1711, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1834, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ration was circa 1711

Dictionary Entries Near ration

Cite this Entry

“Ration.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ration. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

ration

1 of 2 noun
1
a
: a food allowance for one day
2
: the amount one is allowed by authority

ration

2 of 2 verb
rationed; rationing ˈrash-(ə-)niŋ How to pronounce ration (audio)
ˈrāsh-
1
: to control the amount one can use
during the war the government rationed gasoline
2
: to use sparingly
ration your water on the hike

Medical Definition

ration

1 of 2 noun
: a food allowance for one day

ration

2 of 2 transitive verb
rationed; rationing ˈrash-(ə-)niŋ How to pronounce ration (audio) ˈrāsh- How to pronounce ration (audio)
: to supply with or put on rations

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