leftover

1 of 2

noun

left·​over ˈleft-ˌō-vər How to pronounce leftover (audio)
Synonyms of leftovernext
1
: something that remains unused or unconsumed
especially : leftover food served at a later meal
—usually plural
2
: an anachronistic survival : vestige

leftover

2 of 2

adjective

: not consumed or used
leftover food
leftover space

Synonyms of leftover

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Noun

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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
The words cut sharply into the jumble of to-do lists, fantasies, snippets of possible writing, worry, and leftover traces of postpartum depression that constituted my mind in the early months of 1993. — Via Scribner, Literary Hub, 9 Oct. 2026 But although most of the valuable gold has been removed, these leftovers still contain other metals, such as arsenic, mercury, and most importantly, gallium. — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2026
Adjective
Use the iron-and-paper towel method to absorb leftover residue. — Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 26 Sep. 2026 Wilson follows Macco to gigs at dive bars in Long Island and festivals in Montauk, discussing life, passion, and loss, while occasionally taking shots of leftover promotional liquor. — Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 16 Sep. 2026 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

Rhymes for leftover

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Browse Nearby Words

left of center
leftover
left, right, and centre
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Leftover.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leftover. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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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
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