1
a
: a food allowance for one day
b
2
: a share especially as determined by supply
Examples of ration in a Sentence
The soldiers were given their rations for the day.
The horse was fed its ration of oats.
weekly sugar and butter rations
Recent Examples on the Web
Whatever its former luxury, the boat now had cabins crammed with four-person bunks and an atmosphere thick with the scent of unwashed bodies and the steam of rations.
—
Kevin Maurer, The Atlantic, 6 June 2026
With the switch, the five years’ worth of orders under NSSF Phase 2 have ULA with 25 missions ordered to SpaceX’s 23 missions, for what was originally targeted to be a 60% to 40% order ration in favor of ULA.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 June 2026
The hope is that such vehicles will act as force multipliers while being inexpensive enough to risk in dangerous situations, such as delivering ammunition, fuel, and rations under fire without endangering human lives.
—David Szondy
june 03, New Atlas, 3 June 2026
Nestlé’s signature coffee brand, Nescafé, became a household name in the mid-20th century after it was included as the instant coffee in US military rations during World War II.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for ration
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Kevin Maurer, The Atlantic, 6 June 2026
With the switch, the five years’ worth of orders under NSSF Phase 2 have ULA with 25 missions ordered to SpaceX’s 23 missions, for what was originally targeted to be a 60% to 40% order ration in favor of ULA.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 June 2026
The hope is that such vehicles will act as force multipliers while being inexpensive enough to risk in dangerous situations, such as delivering ammunition, fuel, and rations under fire without endangering human lives.
—David Szondy
june 03, New Atlas, 3 June 2026
Nestlé’s signature coffee brand, Nescafé, became a household name in the mid-20th century after it was included as the instant coffee in US military rations during World War II.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for ration
Cite this Entry
“Ration.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ration. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
1
a
: a food allowance for one day
b
plural
: provision entry 1 sense 2
2
: the amount one is allowed by authority
ration
2 of 2 verb
rationed; rationing
ˈrash-(ə-)niŋ 
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
2 of 2 transitive verb
rationed; rationing
ˈrash-(ə-)niŋ
ˈrāsh-
ˈrāsh-
: to supply with or put on rations
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