ration
ra·tion/ˈɹeɪʃən/noun, verb
ration is spelled R-A-T-I-O-N: 6 letters and 2 syllables (ra·tion). It appears 1.5 times per million words in written English, the 23,253rd most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, ration means “A portion of some limited resource, especially food, allocated to a person, group or period” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of ration is rations.
How many letters and syllables are in ration?
| Letters | 6: R-A-T-I-O-N |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2: ra·tion |
| In writing | 1.5 times per million words; the 23,253rd most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Rhymes with |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.
How common is ration?
Ration appears 1.5 times per million words in written English, the 23,253rd most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce ration?
- /ˈɹæʃən/
- UK /ˈɹeɪʃən/
- /reːʃən/
Ration has 2 syllables, split ra·tion in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-us-ration.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with ration?
The 12 most written words on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as ration from its last stressed vowel (/eɪʃən/, British pronunciation):
- translation
- aviation
- determination
- delegation
- authorization
- degradation
- deportation
- inauguration
- deprivation
- depreciation
- visualization
- denomination
Computed by PlainSpell from the pronunciations in the English Wiktionary (dump of September 2, 2026): a rhyme shares every sound from the last stressed vowel to the end; ordered by written frequency (wordfreq 3.1).
Forms of ration
- rations plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- rationing participle, present
- rationed participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does ration mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
A portion of some limited resource, especially food, allocated to a person, group or period.
Jack gathered his meager ration of food.
verb
- 1
To supply with a ration; to limit (someone) to a specific allowance of something.
We rationed ourselves to three sips of water a day until we were rescued.
- 2
To portion out (especially during a shortage of supply); to limit access to.
By the third day on the raft, we had to ration our water.
- 3
To restrict (an activity etc.)
I've rationed myself to one cup of coffee a day.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Ration in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | ration , rationner |
| German | Ration , rationieren |
| Spanish | ración, víveres, vitualla, pitanza, alforja , racionar |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does ration come from?
From French ration. Doublet of reason and ratio.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).