leftover

1 of 2

noun

left·​over ˈleft-ˌō-vər How to pronounce leftover (audio)
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

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
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Noun
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 26 Feb. 2025 This humble appliance can do a lot more than reheat leftovers or perk up that forgotten cup of tea. Emma Laperruque, Bon Appétit, 20 Feb. 2025
Adjective
So Far The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time There are plenty of leftover songs from the Hackney Diamonds sessions, and Watts wants the Stones to finish them. Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 22 Feb. 2025 After a star forms, leftover dust and gas combine to create a material-rich reservoir known as a protoplanetary disk. Nola Taylor Tillman, Space.com, 17 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for leftover

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1866, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1864, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of leftover was in 1864

Cite this Entry

“Leftover.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leftover. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on leftover

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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