Word
leftover
Phoneticsleft·over
US/ˈɫɛfˌtoʊvɝ/
UK/lˈɛftəʊvɐ/
Definitions
01remaining food
B1 · Intermediate Plural noun Cooking
n. food that is not eaten during a meal and is kept to be eaten at another time.
n. 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.
Pitfall
I ate a leftover for lunch.
I ate some leftovers for lunch.
When referring to food, this noun is almost always used in the plural form.
02a remainder
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. something that is left over after the main part has been used or finished.
n. 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.”
Antonyms
03remaining
B1 · Intermediate
adj. describes something that is still there after other parts have been taken or used.
adj. 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.
Etymology
From left (“remaining, abandoned”) + over (“excess”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
PHRASAL VERB
PREPOSITION
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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