leftover
Americannoun
-
Usually leftovers. food remaining uneaten at the end of a meal, especially when saved for later use.
-
anything left or remaining from a larger amount; remainder.
adjective
noun
adjective
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of leftover
1890–95; noun use of verb phrase left over; see 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.
See Examples For:
One big issue for some fashion retailers is having big piles of leftover stock that has to be discounted heavily so they can shift it.
From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026
Hamawy led me through the polished medical half of the office to a room around the corner with a conference table and a messy whiteboard with leftover green-marker notes from the primary.
From Slate ● Jul. 14, 2026
The approach could be especially valuable for manufacturing tiny electronic devices, where leftover additives can interfere with the performance of printed materials.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 11, 2026
It’s a hard skill to teach, but he hopes this new season of “Struggle Meals” inspires people to use their leftover ingredients in interesting and creative ways.
From Salon ● Jul. 2, 2026
Instead, he headed up to sit on the stage with the officers and handed the leftover agendas to the person he sat next to.
From "Liar, Liar" by Gary Paulsen
When you put food leftovers outside the house for collection, what do you think you are doing?
From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2026
And to come home not with leftovers, but perhaps a painting of their own.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026
But we’ve all been in that situation where you buy something specifically for a recipe and have no clue what to do with the leftovers.
From Salon ● Jul. 2, 2026
But there could be value in the sector’s leftovers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026
I tried to push it back, but he wouldn’t have it, so I took it upon myself to finish his leftovers.
From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros
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.
