# leftover

/ˈɫɛfˌtoʊvɝ/ (US) · /lˈɛftəʊvɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/leftover
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. remaining food

noun · CEFR B1

food that is not eaten during a meal and is kept to be eaten at another time.

For teachers: food remaining uneaten at the conclusion of a meal, typically reserved for subsequent consumption.

- We had plenty of leftovers from the party, so I didn't need to cook lunch.
- The family relied on leftovers for several days following the holiday feast, creatively repurposing the roast turkey into stews and sandwiches.

Usage: Usually used in the plural form when referring to food.

### 2. a remainder

noun · CEFR B2

something that is left over after the main part has been used or finished.

For teachers: an amount, object, or part that remains after the rest has been utilised or dealt with.

- The factory sold the fabric leftovers to a local craft shop.
- The budget surplus was a welcome leftover from the previous administration's conservative fiscal policies.

### 3. remaining

adjective · CEFR B1

describes something that is still there after other parts have been taken or used.

For teachers: remaining or left behind after the use or destruction of the rest.

- I used the leftover paint to touch up the scratches on the door.
- The architect suggested using leftover materials from the primary construction site to build a small garden shed.

Usage: Usually placed before the noun.

## Examples

- I will eat the leftover pizza for lunch tomorrow.
- She packed the leftover turkey into small containers to freeze for future soups and stews.
- While some diners find the prospect of eating a leftover unappealing, many traditional recipes were specifically designed to transform yesterday's remains into a completely new culinary experience.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.