odds and ends

plural noun

1

a

: miscellaneous articles

b

: miscellaneous small matters (as of business) to be attended to

2

: miscellaneous remnants or leftovers

odds and ends of food

Synonyms

• novelties
• gadgets
• notion
• sundries
• variety

Examples of odds and ends in a Sentence

she's always searching among the odds and ends in the drawer for some tool that she needs

almost all of the piece of leather will be needed for upholstering the chair, so just throw away any odds and ends

Recent Examples on the Web

Use it to stash odds and ends (and glam up your vanity) through the holiday season and beyond. —Jenny Berg, Vogue, 2 Sep. 2025

Vintage shops and thrift stores can be treasure troves for all odds and ends to fill any space of the house—especially because vintage decor is having a major moment right now. —Shivani Vyas, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Aug. 2025

Craft supplies, holiday decor, photos, or other similar odds and ends do not belong in the laundry room, either. —Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 14 Aug. 2025

Staged displays of couches, chairs, beds and tables showcase a wide variety of products, from colorful throws and decorative pillows to bathroom sets, lamps, kitchen items and odds and ends like mugs and candles. —Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1761, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for odds and ends

• apprehends
• comprehends
• condescends
• dividends
• recommends
• amends
• appends
• ascends
• attends
• befriends
• boyfriends
• commends

Kids Definition

odds and ends

plural noun

: miscellaneous articles, leftovers, or things to do