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 of leftover

Noun

• remainder
• scrap
• remnant

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

Before the sale closed, Plachecki was required to scrape and repaint its 1980s-era deck because, even though it was built after lead paint was banned, contractors often used leftover paint for years afterward. —Jimmy Lovrien, Twin Cities, 16 Feb. 2026

Clouds are expected to linger into President’s Day on Monday, with highs near 45 and a slight chance of leftover showers. —Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 15 Feb. 2026

Adjective

The city also plans to implement a new program to help residents with rental, deposit and utility costs using leftover federal housing money from 2017 that will be reclaimed by the federal government if not used this year. —Stacy Brandt, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026

Meth users, for instance, typically smoke the drug, and commingling pipes with people who use fentanyl risks meth users overdosing after unwittingly smoking leftover fentanyl residue. —Lev Facher, STAT, 12 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1866, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1864, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for leftover

• carryover
• changeover
• crossover
• cutover
• flashover
• hangover
• holdover
• layover
• makeover
• moreover
• passover
• pullover

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