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 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
Stop giving out your leftovers Psychologist Guy Winch writes in his new book, Mind Over Grind, that overworking, or tying too much of your identity to work, can increase conflict at home as your work and family demands collide. Maria Ross, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026 The slow-rolling collapse of traditional late-night shows has been the theme of the past year, with the FCC pressuring broadcasters, network economics imploding and streaming gobbling up all of the leftovers. Clayton Davis, Variety, 18 June 2026
Adjective
The Fresh Stretch Pod is a clever kitchen gadget designed to keep leftover halves fresher by reducing air exposure. Better Homes & Gardens, 11 June 2026 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 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 22 Jun. 2026.

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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