1
a
: a food allowance for one day
b
2
: a share especially as determined by supply
rationed; rationing
ˈra-sh(ə-)niŋ 
ˈrā-
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
Synonyms
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
Ken Alltucker, USA TODAY, 10 Aug. 2023
Iraqis’ water comes from the government in red plastic barrels, in rations of about 160 gallons a month per family.
—Alissa J. Rubin, BostonGlobe.com, 30 July 2023
The remaining home cooks will be asked to prepare a gourmet meal using three components from Army rations.
—Kturnqui, oregonlive, 23 Aug. 2023
During the Second World War, beekeepers were allowed extra sugar rations.
—Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2023
There the Nazis separated the Jewish American soldiers and put them into segregated barracks where lice crawled on the mattresses and they were given starvation rations.
—Richard Hurowitz, Time, 19 Aug. 2023
Last month, the World Food Program was forced to cut food rations for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh after suffering a funding shortfall of $56 million.
—Helen Regan, CNN, 7 July 2023
George Washington ordered a double ration of rum for his soldiers (along with an artillery salute) to celebrate the holiday on July 4, 1778.
—Emily Vanschmus, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 June 2023
Episode 2) Wilson finds a man who has made a hobby out of collecting and eating really old and expired Meals Ready-to-Eat (MREs), which are army rations that were given to soldiers during combat or in places where food wasn’t readily available.
—Rayna Rossitto, Vulture, 13 June 2023
Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2023
The Reno Gazette Journal reported Saturday that organizers started rationing ice sales and that all vehicle traffic at the sprawling festival grounds had been stopped, leaving portable toilets unable to be serviced.
—Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 3 Sep. 2023
Pharmacists are managing the shortages by offering therapeutic alternatives, buying different vial sizes or concentrations and rationing medicines.
—Ken Alltucker, USA TODAY, 10 Aug. 2023
Many have resorted to rationing food and water as toilets fail and new supplies can’t reach the site because of treacherous conditions.
—Chris Stokel-Walker, WIRED, 4 Sep. 2023
Meanwhile, attendees who typically dedicate their time to making art and building community are now also focused on rationing supplies and dealing with connectivity issues.
—Nouran Salahieh, CNN, 3 Sep. 2023
Those with disabilities were also impacted by rising drug costs, with 20% taking measures to ration their medications because of cost.
—Sherri Gordon, Health, 12 June 2023
The government has rationed electricity since July, with rolling blackouts that have left many Egyptians sweaty and frustrated.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 22 Aug. 2023
Enter Email Sign Up The family is rationing his pills this summer so that Madison, who recently turned 12, will have them during the school year.
—Christina Caron, BostonGlobe.com, 19 Aug. 2023
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Noun
Hospital pharmacists said drug shortages have forced 1 in 3 health systems to delay, cancel or ration care or switch to alternate drugs to continue to treat patients.
—Ken Alltucker, USA TODAY, 10 Aug. 2023
Iraqis’ water comes from the government in red plastic barrels, in rations of about 160 gallons a month per family.
—Alissa J. Rubin, BostonGlobe.com, 30 July 2023
The remaining home cooks will be asked to prepare a gourmet meal using three components from Army rations.
—Kturnqui, oregonlive, 23 Aug. 2023
During the Second World War, beekeepers were allowed extra sugar rations.
—Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2023
There the Nazis separated the Jewish American soldiers and put them into segregated barracks where lice crawled on the mattresses and they were given starvation rations.
—Richard Hurowitz, Time, 19 Aug. 2023
Last month, the World Food Program was forced to cut food rations for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh after suffering a funding shortfall of $56 million.
—Helen Regan, CNN, 7 July 2023
George Washington ordered a double ration of rum for his soldiers (along with an artillery salute) to celebrate the holiday on July 4, 1778.
—Emily Vanschmus, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 June 2023
Episode 2) Wilson finds a man who has made a hobby out of collecting and eating really old and expired Meals Ready-to-Eat (MREs), which are army rations that were given to soldiers during combat or in places where food wasn’t readily available.
—Rayna Rossitto, Vulture, 13 June 2023
Verb
Health officials say the sweeping actions mandated by government officials earlier in the pandemic were aimed at keeping hospitals from being so overwhelmed by COVID-19 patients that doctors would be forced to ration care — a fear that came close to reality before vaccines were widely available.
—Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2023
The Reno Gazette Journal reported Saturday that organizers started rationing ice sales and that all vehicle traffic at the sprawling festival grounds had been stopped, leaving portable toilets unable to be serviced.
—Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 3 Sep. 2023
Pharmacists are managing the shortages by offering therapeutic alternatives, buying different vial sizes or concentrations and rationing medicines.
—Ken Alltucker, USA TODAY, 10 Aug. 2023
Many have resorted to rationing food and water as toilets fail and new supplies can’t reach the site because of treacherous conditions.
—Chris Stokel-Walker, WIRED, 4 Sep. 2023
Meanwhile, attendees who typically dedicate their time to making art and building community are now also focused on rationing supplies and dealing with connectivity issues.
—Nouran Salahieh, CNN, 3 Sep. 2023
Those with disabilities were also impacted by rising drug costs, with 20% taking measures to ration their medications because of cost.
—Sherri Gordon, Health, 12 June 2023
The government has rationed electricity since July, with rolling blackouts that have left many Egyptians sweaty and frustrated.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 22 Aug. 2023
Enter Email Sign Up The family is rationing his pills this summer so that Madison, who recently turned 12, will have them during the school year.
—Christina Caron, BostonGlobe.com, 19 Aug. 2023
See More
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
Phrases Containing ration
Dictionary Entries Near ration
Cite this Entry
“Ration.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ration. Accessed 29 Sep. 2023.
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Kids 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
More from Merriam-Webster on ration
Nglish: Translation of ration for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of ration for Arabic Speakers
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