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
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

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 29 Sep. 2023.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on ration

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