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

The remainder, which fell into orbit, collected into our solar system’s planets, along with a mess of asteroids and other cosmic leftovers. —James Dinneen, Quanta Magazine, 2 Mar. 2026

Earlier in 2025, scientists unearthed a new dinosaur — and its ancient leftovers — in a tourist hot spot in Argentina. —Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 1 Mar. 2026

Adjective

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

Plant Early Got leftover bulbs from fall? —Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 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