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Synonyms

leftover

American  
[left-oh-ver] / ˈlɛftˌoʊ vər /

noun

  1. Usually leftovers. food remaining uneaten at the end of a meal, especially when saved for later use.

  2. anything left or remaining from a larger amount; remainder.

adjective

  1. being left or remaining, as an unused portion or amount.

    leftover meatloaf.
    Synonyms:
    extra, excess, surplus
leftover British  
/ ˈlɛftˌəʊvə /

noun

  1. (often plural) an unused portion or remnant, as of material or of cooked food

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adjective

  1. left as an unused portion or remnant

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of leftover

1890–95; noun use of verb phrase left over; left 2

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

On another Easter-related thread, a different commenter said: “We also throw in any leftover birthday favors and stocking stuffers.”

From MarketWatch • Apr. 2, 2026

These aren’t kitchen-sink movies; they’re garbage disposal rejects, alloys composed of leftover scraps.

From Salon • Mar. 29, 2026

Psyche and other main belt asteroids are thought to be leftover building blocks from planet formation.

From Science Daily • Mar. 17, 2026

After that, the composer turned his attention to a big band pet project, making ends meet with leftover work scoring German TV shows.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 13, 2026

I reach down by my air mattress and pick up one of the leftover pizza scraps off a stray paper plate.

From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.