leftover

1 of 2

noun

left·​over ˈleft-ˌō-vər 

1

: something that remains unused or unconsumed

especially : leftover food served at a later meal

—usually used in plural

2

: an anachronistic survival : vestige

leftover

2 of 2

adjective

: not consumed or used

leftover food

leftover space

Synonyms

Noun

• end
• fag end
• oddment
• remainder
• remnant
• scrap
• stub

Examples of leftover in a Sentence

Noun

Are we having leftovers again?

The law is a leftover from earlier times.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Boxing Day celebrations include a day off work, gift giving, shopping, charity, watching horse races and soccer games and sharing Christmas leftovers with loved ones, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. —Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 6 Dec. 2024

Ikea 365+ Cutting Board $5 Ikea These clever cutting boards from Ikea also function as lids for leftovers or prep containers (see the containers that go with them pictured to the right). —Emily Johnson, Bon Appétit, 5 Dec. 2024

Adjective

Using leftover funds to facilitate collaborative sales training sessions or implementing sales enablement tools can bridge this gap. —Yogesh Shah, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024

Pyrex Simply Store Glass Storage Container Set The holidays are unofficially leftover season, so make sure there’s a place to stash the remaining ham or green bean casserole with these food storage containers. —Shea Simmons, People.com, 30 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1866, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1864, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

leftover

noun

left·​over

ˈlef-ˌtō-vər

: something remaining

especially : food left over from one meal and served at another

—usually used in plural

leftover adjective