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
: 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
Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 12 June 2026
But a small leftover swirl in the atmosphere could help spark new storms later Saturday, the weather service said.
—Kansas City Star, 12 June 2026
The Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 June 2026
Soap Scum While people may consider soap scum just leftover soap that didn't properly rinse away, the science surrounding soap scum isn't quite that straightforward.
—Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 10 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for leftover
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Specifically, patriotic re-usable containers that make sending guests home with leftovers a breeze.
—Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 12 June 2026
But a small leftover swirl in the atmosphere could help spark new storms later Saturday, the weather service said.
—Kansas City Star, 12 June 2026
Adjective
Lucky for me, there was leftover lekvar (prune butter), perfect to swipe on toast for the rest of the week.
—The Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 June 2026
Soap Scum While people may consider soap scum just leftover soap that didn't properly rinse away, the science surrounding soap scum isn't quite that straightforward.
—Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 10 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for leftover
Cite this Entry
“Leftover.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leftover. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
