noun · verb · 8 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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răshʹən
/ˈɹæʃən/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -æʃən
rāshʹən
Received-Pronunciation, dated:/ˈɹeɪʃən/
South-Asia:/reːʃən/
rhymes with -eɪʃən
CMU ARPABET:R AE1 SH AH0 N
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
CMU ARPABET 2:R EY1 SH AH0 N
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
A portion of some limited resource, especially food, allocated to a person, group or period.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
Jack gathered his meager ration of food.
The town's ration of gasoline had to go to necessary vehicles.
Betty had divided up her cigarettes to last all month, and her ration for today was only three.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
verb
Meaning 2
To supply with a ration; to limit (someone) to a specific allowance of something.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
We rationed ourselves to three sips of water a day until we were rescued.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
To portion out (especially during a shortage of supply); to limit access to.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
By the third day on the raft, we had to ration our water.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
verb
Meaning 4
To restrict (an activity etc.)
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
I've rationed myself to one cup of coffee a day.
Our present health care system is rationed only to those who can afford it because of unnecessary high cost, lack of insurance coverage by 47 million people, and exorbitant prescription prices.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
the food allowance for one day (especially for service personnel)
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
the rations should be nutritionally balanced
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: fare
Narrower terms: field ration
6
noun
Meaning 6
a fixed portion that is allotted (especially in times of scarcity)
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: share, portion, part, percentage
7
verb
Meaning 7
distribute in rations, as in the army
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
Cigarettes are rationed
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: ration out
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: allocate, apportion
8
verb
Meaning 8
restrict the consumption of a relatively scarce commodity, as during war
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
Bread was rationed during the siege of the city
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: limit, circumscribe, confine
History
Etymology
From French ration. Doublet of reason and ratio.
Across languages
Translations
67 source translations are retained for this English entry.
