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

For instance, black soldier flies do double duty breaking down leftover food waste to produce nutrient-rich compost that can be used in the garden, and breeding pupae that are fed to the on-site chickens. —Alaina Chou, Bon Appetit Magazine, 6 Apr. 2026

Another one is about leftover debris from the original stellar collision slowly falling back onto the star over millions of years. —Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 5 Apr. 2026

Adjective

Grease and oil might look harmless, but grease has the potential to congeal and harden, while leftover oil can coat your pipes and cause other things to get stuck. —Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 15 Mar. 2026

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

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