ration

7 definitions • 10 examples

a limited amount of something that one person is allowed to have, especially when there is not much of it available:

During the war, no one was allowed more than their ration of food, clothing and fuel.

the total amount of food that is given to someone to be eaten during a particular activity and in a particular period of time, especially an amount given to soldiers when they are fighting:

Rations were frequently allocated in public to ensure fairness.

an amount of something that you would expect to have:

We've had more than our ration of problems recently.

to limit the amount of a particular thing that someone is allowed to have:

Do you remember when petrol was rationed to five gallons a week?

My children would watch television all day long, but I ration it.

a limited amount (of something) that one person is allowed to have, esp. when there is not much of it available:

Rations of rice were distributed to the refugees.

a limited amount of something that you are allowed to have when there is not much of it available:

Each family has to make do with a weekly ration of gas.

With ranchers reducing their herds because of high-priced grain rations, some see retail beef prices jumping more than 10% next year.

to control the supply of something when there is not much of it available, or to limit the amount of a particular thing that someone is allowed to have:

ration sth to sth The garage was forced to ration gas to 20 litres per person.

ration sb to sth During the war, people were rationed to just 50 grams of meat a week.