Meaning & use

ration

noun·Academic

A fixed amount of food or another scarce resource officially allowed to each person, especially during shortages.

See it in a sentence

During the war, each family received a weekly ration of sugar, butter, and meat.

The captain rationed the remaining water carefully after the ship's tanks sprang a leak.

A note on using this word

Ration is used both as a noun for the fixed amount and as a verb meaning to distribute something sparingly or in limited amounts.

Words with a similar meaning

allowancequota

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Make it your own

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