Meaning
Ration can be used as both a noun and a verb.
- Noun: A fixed amount of food or supplies officially allowed to each person, especially during shortages, wars, or emergencies.
- Verb: To control or restrict the amount of something that people are allowed to have or use.
Grammar and Usage
-
As a noun: Singular/Plural: ration/rations Typical structure: "a ration of [something]"
-
As a verb: Transitive verb: "to ration something (to/among people)" Common structures:
- "ration sb to sth" → restrict someone’s share
- "ration sth out" → distribute in limited portions
Common Phrases
- food rations
- daily rations
- water rations
- to ration supplies
- to ration fuel
Collocations
- Verb + ration: distribute rations, issue rations, give rations, cut rations
- Adjective + ration: daily ration, meager ration, military ration, limited ration
- Ration + noun: ration book, ration card, ration system
Examples
- Each soldier received a daily ration of bread and water.
- During the war, families had to live on very small food rations.
- The government decided to ration fuel to prevent shortages.
- She rationed her snacks so they would last the whole trip.
- Refugees were provided with emergency rations.
- He had to ration his energy during the long climb.
- Milk was strictly rationed during the crisis.
- They rationed out the medicine to those most in need.
Synonyms or Related
- allowance
- portion
- quota
- distribute
- allocate
- restrict
Antonym
- abundance
- plenty
- surplus
- unlimited supply