Synonyms of leftover

leftover 1 of 2

noun

ˈleft-ˌō-vər 

1

as in remainder

an unused or unwanted piece or item typically of small size or value

that doormat is just a leftover from when the new carpet was installed

Synonyms & Similar Words

• remainder
• scrap
• remnant
• piece
• rest
• fag end
• end
• stub
• leavings
• residual
• oddment
• residue
• pickings
• shred
• sliver
• remains
• stump
• vestige
• fragment
• refuse
• odds and ends
• splinter
• scraping(s)
• flake
• chip
• balance
• ribbon(s)
• tatter

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• whole

2

as in rest

leftovers plural a remaining group or portion

take as many of these calendars as you want, and put the leftovers back on the shelf

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rest
• remainder
• leavings
• remnant
• residue
• residuum
• remains
• odds and ends
• balance
• fragment
• surplus
• scrap
• vestige
• excess
• stump
• overabundance
• stub
• butt
• surfeit
• overflow
• fat
• overage
• oversupply
• superabundance
• superfluity
• overkill
• scraping(s)
• oddment
• overmuch

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• most
• body
• mass
• weight
• bulk
• main

leftover

2 of 2

adjective

as in residual

still existing or present after other parts are used or removed

This recipe is a great way to use up leftover rice.

Related Words

• residual
• remaining
• lingering
• lasting
• staying
• continuing
• persisting
• enduring
• surviving
• holding up
• abiding
• keeping up
• biding
• holding on
• perduring
• running on
• prevailing
• sticking around
• tarrying
• carrying through

Dissimilar Words

• dying (down)
• waning
• letting up
• subsiding
• ebbing
• dying
• passing
• ending
• finishing
• moderating
• abating
• concluding
• closing
• winding up
• stopping
• expiring
• lapsing
• terminating
• ceasing
• quitting
• leaving off
• discontinuing
• desisting

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of leftover

Noun

When taking out of the refrigerator to reheat one or two slices, a skillet is a popular way to revive leftover pizza. — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2026

Hsu maps a Los Angeles of leftovers and castoffs; portraits of friends and strangers in the street are full of dazed, inscrutable expressions. — Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2026

Adjective

The rest goes into a stock pot with leftover frozen celery tops, onion skins and maybe the odd garlic clove. — Malaka Gharib, NPR, 6 July 2026

Any leftover unopened packages can hang in the fridge for up to two weeks, or in the freezer for up to two months. — Farideh Sadeghin, Bon Appetit Magazine, 18 June 2026