rations
B2formal, historical, military
Definition
Meaning
A fixed allowance or portion of food or provisions, especially for military personnel or in times of scarcity.
Any fixed allowance of a resource (e.g., water rations, fuel rations). To distribute or restrict (something) in fixed, often limited amounts.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The noun primarily implies a controlled, limited supply, often due to scarcity or as a systematic allocation. The verb means to control supply strictly.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major difference in core meaning. 'Ration' as a verb for fuel (petrol) is more common in UK history (post-war rationing).
Connotations
Strongly associated with wartime (WWII) in both, but also with economic crises or resource management.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in UK English due to more recent historical experience with extended rationing schemes.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
N (of N)V NV N to Nbe rationed to NVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “on short rations”
- “be rationed to the bone”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in specific industries like utilities (water rationing during a drought) or project management (rationing of resources).
Academic
Used in historical, economic, or sociological texts discussing resource distribution, scarcity, or wartime policies.
Everyday
Used when discussing dieting ('I'm rationing sweets'), historical references, or extreme situations like camping/hiking.
Technical
Used in military logistics, disaster management, and public health planning.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The government had to ration petrol during the fuel crisis.
- Water will be rationed to 50 litres per household per day.
American English
- During the drought, the city rationed water usage.
- She rationed her weekly candy allowance to make it last.
adverb
British English
- Supplies were distributed ration-wise among the villagers.
American English
- They ate ration-style to conserve their food stores.
adjective
British English
- He was issued a ration book in 1943.
- The ration card entitled them to a weekly allowance.
American English
- They survived on ration portions during the expedition.
- The ration schedule was posted in the camp.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The soldiers got their food rations every morning.
- In the story, they had little water, so they used it carefully.
- During the war, families received weekly rations of sugar and butter.
- The expedition leader rationed the chocolate so it would last the whole trip.
- Emergency rations were distributed to the population after the earthquake.
- The government may have to ration electricity if the heatwave continues.
- The historian analysed the impact of the stringent rationing policies on civilian morale.
- Critics argued that rationing healthcare access was an unethical solution to budget shortfalls.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a RATion (like a small rat) getting only a tiny, fixed portion of cheese each day.
Conceptual Metaphor
RESOURCES ARE LIMITED COMMODITIES TO BE METED OUT.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'рацион' (diet, daily food intake) which is neutral. English 'rations' implies enforced limitation. The verb 'to ration' is closer to 'нормировать' or 'выдавать по норме' than to 'кормить'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'rations' to mean simply 'food' (e.g., 'We bought our rations for the picnic' – incorrect). Using 'ration' as a countable noun for a single item (e.g., 'a ration of bread' is correct, but 'a bread ration' is more natural).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses 'rations' CORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. As a noun, 'ration' (singular) refers to the fixed allowance itself (e.g., 'a daily ration of rice'). 'Rations' (plural) often refers to the supplies collectively (e.g., 'their rations were running low').
Yes, though less commonly. You can ration fuel, electricity, time, or even attention (e.g., 'She rationed her time between two projects').
'Provisions' is a broader term for supplies, especially food. 'Rations' specifically implies a measured, often limited, allocation from a larger supply.
It is neutral but describes a restrictive action, often prompted by negative circumstances like scarcity. It can have a positive connotation in contexts like self-control (e.g., 'rationing sweets for health').
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