ration
/ˈræʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈræʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈra-shən ˈrā-/ (ame, mw) · /ˈræʃ.ən/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈræʃ.ən/ (ame, ipa)
ration — noun
- rationsingular
- rationsplural
1. an officially controlled portion of an essential resource — such as bread, petro
an officially controlled portion of an essential resource — such as bread, petrol, or drinking water — that may be claimed by one person when supplies are tight, for instance during wartime or after a natural disaster.
During the drought, each family received a monthly ration of drinking water.
collocation: a ration of + scarce resource
The government announced that the daily bread ration would be cut to 200 grams per person.
Eshe still had half of her weekly sugar ration, so she baked a small cake.
Soldiers carried a three-day emergency ration in their packs at all times.
With the fuel ration reduced again, many families chose to stay home in the evenings.
- surplus
an excess beyond what is needed, the opposite of scarcity-based rationing
文法句型
a ration of something
用法筆記
Often modified by a time period (daily/weekly/monthly) and paired with the resource being restricted (bread/water/fuel).
常見錯誤
2. the fixed daily supply of food given to soldiers, explorers, or other people liv
the fixed daily supply of food given to soldiers, explorers, or other people living in remote or difficult conditions where food is not freely available.
The platoon's rations ran out on the third day of the march through the jungle.
plural form: rations (standard for daily food supply)
Nala packed enough rations for a week before crossing the desert with her team.
The mountaineers survived on dried rations and melted snow for ten days.
Each soldier received cold rations that included crackers, tinned meat, and a chocolate bar.
When the rescue helicopter arrived, the stranded climbers had only one day of rations left.
- provisions
broader term for any food supplies, not necessarily restricted or fixed in amount
- supplies
can include non-food items as well
- field rations
specifically refers to military rations intended for combat conditions
文法句型
(plural) rations
用法筆記
Nearly always used in the plural form 'rations' when referring to a soldier's or traveller's food supply. The singular suggests a single item or portion.
常見錯誤
3. how much of something a person typically gets or goes through in a given situati
how much of something a person typically gets or goes through in a given situation, frequently used in the phrase 'had one's ration of' to suggest that no more is wanted.
Liam has had his fair ration of bad luck — a car crash and job loss.
pattern: have had one's fair ration of [something]
The old hospital had its usual ration of broken lifts, leaking roofs, and short-staffed wards.
Aylin had her ration of meetings for the week and declined the afternoon session.
The team got more than their usual ration of rain at camp in Scotland.
文法句型
one's fair ration of something
one's usual ration of something
用法筆記
This sense carries a tone of mild complaint or resignation. Common in the fixed phrase 'have had one's ration of' to mean 'have had enough and do not want more.'
常見錯誤
ration — verb
- rationpresent simple I / you / we / they
- rations3rd person singular
- rationing-ing form
- rationedpast simple
1. to strictly control how much of something each person is allowed to use or have,
to strictly control how much of something each person is allowed to use or have, because there is not enough for everyone to have as much as they want.
During the war, the government rationed petrol to keep essential services running.
active voice: government rationed [resource]
Each household was rationed to three litres of cooking oil per month.
passive: be rationed to [amount]
The camp rationed water strictly, giving each person only two bottles a day.
Hao's parents rationed his screen time, one hour on school nights and two at weekends.
After the earthquake, rescue workers rationed the fresh water until more supplies arrived by helicopter.
- flood
to supply in large quantities, the opposite of controlled scarcity
文法句型
ration something
be rationed to [amount]
ration someone to [amount]
用法筆記
Common in the passive construction 'be rationed to [amount]' when stating the limit. The grammatical subject can be the resource being limited (Water was rationed) or the authority doing the limiting (The government rationed water).
常見錯誤
2. to give out or distribute a fixed portion of food or supplies to each person in
to give out or distribute a fixed portion of food or supplies to each person in a group, especially as part of a planned system.
The quartermaster rationed out the remaining canned goods to the fifty survivors in the bunker.
phrasal: ration + out + object
Ari rationed the supplies fairly among the construction crew working on the mountain pass.
Before the long march, the sergeant rationed each soldier dried fruit and two biscuits.
The relief agency rationed blankets to every family that lost their home in the flood.
Meera rationed the chocolate bars out so the children would not eat them.
- distribute
more neutral; does not imply a fixed allowance per person
- allocate
suggests a planned assignment of shares, often in an official context
- dole out
informal; can imply reluctance or a small amount
- hoard
to keep for oneself rather than distribute
文法句型
ration something out
ration out something to someone
用法筆記
Often used with the particle 'out' (ration out) to emphasise the act of distributing portions. Can take a double-object structure: 'ration someone something'.