ration

Language: en

🇬🇧 /ˈræʃən/ 🇺🇸 /ˈræʃən/

📖 Definitions

  1. noun
    A fixed amount of food, supplies, or other resources allotted to a person, especially during a shortage or in military service.; A share or portion of something.
  2. verb
    To distribute or allot in fixed amounts, especially during a shortage.; To restrict the amount of something that a person is allowed to have or use.

🔗 Details

Word forms

countable Plural: rations 3rd sing.: rations Past: rationed Past part.: rationed Pres part.: rationing

Collocations

ration outration bookration cardrationing systemon rationsration supplies

Derivatives

rationingrationed

Synonyms

allowanceallotmentportionquotashareallocation

Antonyms

surplusexcess

Commonly confused

ratio
EN: 'Ratio' refers to a proportional relationship between quantities; 'ration' is a fixed allowance of supplies.
rational
EN: 'Rational' means logical or reasonable; 'ration' is a fixed portion of food or supplies, despite sharing a Latin root.

Spelling tips

EN: Do not confuse 'ration' (a fixed allowance) with 'ratio' (a proportional relationship) or 'rational' (logical), which share an etymological root but differ in meaning and spelling.

💬 Examples

  1. Each soldier received a daily ration of bread and meat.

  2. She gave the children their ration of candy for the week.

  3. The government rationed fuel during the war.

  4. She rationed her time carefully to finish all the tasks.