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
Nina Moskowitz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 Mar. 2026
The electric motors use the leftover energy produced in diesel mode to recharge the batteries, according to Greenline.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 9 Mar. 2026
Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
Scrape Away Leftover Food Use a rubber spatula or paper towel to remove leftover food from the dishes and cookware.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 21 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for leftover
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Noun
The fun of this salad is the playful textures of super-crispy rice made from day-old leftovers.
—Nina Moskowitz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 Mar. 2026
The electric motors use the leftover energy produced in diesel mode to recharge the batteries, according to Greenline.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
There can be several reasons from hard water's mineral buildup, leftover detergent residue, over-drying, or natural fiber stiffening.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
Scrape Away Leftover Food Use a rubber spatula or paper towel to remove leftover food from the dishes and cookware.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 21 Feb. 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 10 Mar. 2026.
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