leftover

[ left-oh-ver ]

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

/ ˈlɛftˌəʊvə /

noun

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

adjective

1. left as an unused portion or remnant

Word History and Origins

Origin of leftover¹

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

Example Sentences

This got rid of almost everything except hair, bones and other food leftovers.

From Science News For Students

This caused the mail to pile up in distribution centers so badly that workers had to start loading leftover mail into trailers and bringing them out to the parking lot.

From Voice of San Diego

This caused the mail to pile up in distribution centers so badly that workers had to start loading leftover mail into trailers and bringing them out to the parking lot, he said.

From Voice of San Diego

We first told you last year about how “solidarity fridges” took off in Paris, with businesses and community members putting their leftovers into fridges for anyone to take.

From Ozy

As it was messily gobbling up matter, the leftovers from that meal could have flowed out to make the bubbles.

From Science News For Students

In Rwanda, an unbalanced ratio leaves 83 of every 100 citizens dependent on the leftover 17 for survival.

From The Daily Beast

Human tails are part of the evolutionary baggage that we carry in our bodies, leftover from our ancestors.

From The Daily Beast

This consisted of wine that was now free and leftover cheese.

From The Daily Beast

Three years on, doesn't it already feel like a leftover from a bygone era?

From The Daily Beast

Empty the mushrooms from the strainer basket into the pot with the leftover broth.

From The Daily Beast

A can of asparagus, a leftover from the housekeeping of the spring, was unearthed.

From Project Gutenberg

Ross swallowed a very dry mouthful of grain and then stooped to scoop up some leftover snow in the shadow of a tree root.

From Project Gutenberg

Faith can have all the jelly she wants, and you can make the leftover seeds up in jam, can't you?

From Project Gutenberg

So may oatmeal or other leftover breakfast cereals, as well as mashed potatoes, be used.

From Project Gutenberg

Leftover meats and vegetables may be turned into palatable food with just a little time and energy.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• extra
• residual
• unused