1
as in remainder
an unused or unwanted piece or item typically of small size or value
that doormat is just a leftover from when the new carpet was installed
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rest
leftovers plural
a remaining group or portion
take as many of these calendars as you want, and put the leftovers back on the shelf
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in residual
still existing or present after other parts are used or removed
This recipe is a great way to use up leftover rice.
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of leftover
Rebekah Evans, TheWeek, 2 Jan. 2026
Mom pulled out her restaurant leftovers at the New Year’s Day family gathering.
—Ellie Krieger, Washington Post, 2 Jan. 2026
ProPublica, 3 Oct. 2025
One of the most noxious of former President Joe Biden’s leftover regulatory rules applies to partnerships — an increasingly common form of business organization and expansion.
—Stephen Moore, Boston Herald, 13 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for leftover
Noun
Any leftover juice can be stored in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.
—Adjective
Grocery stores and food manufacturers, which started managing their inventories more efficiently during the pandemic, now have less leftover food to give.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for leftover
Noun
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See list for remainder of 2025, start of 2026 Remaining full moons in 2025 Thursday, Dec. 4: Cold Moon John Tufts covers trending news for IndyStar and Midwest Connect.—
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Collection activity had been paused for roughly five years, a remainder of Covid-era policies meant to offer relief to borrowers.—
Noun
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Plant dormancy is a type of physiological rest.—
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On Thursday, tight end Hunter Henry (rest), right tackle (Morgan Moses (illness) and linebacker Robert Spillane (ankle) were all upgraded to full participation.—
Adjective
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The team examined atomic spacing within the alloy, using HIDRA diffraction data to find how residual stresses distort the material’s crystallographic planes.—
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Back then, Lionsgate was also rumored to be a potential acquirer but instead, in 2023, the two inked a library sale, with STX retaining most of the residual rights to remakes and sequels, and a marketing and distribution pact for STX theatrical releases in North America.—
Noun
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If a vehicle receives no bids and the car owner shows up, the towing company would be required to offer the car back to them at whatever their costs are before selling it for scrap.—
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Davis officials noted, however, that local rates reflect a broader range of services, including on-street yard material pickup, 24-hour recycling drop-off centers and early adoption of food-scrap and organics programs.—
Adjective
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The higher, remaining doses of the pill will be available to patients by the end of the week, Novo Nordisk said.—
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Chevron is the last remaining American oil company in the country – operating on and off over the past decade as US sanctions and a series of waivers allowed the company to maintain some operations there.—
Noun
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Recently, archaeologists found a massive stone basin in Italy dating back more than 2,000 years — remnants of a once-powerful rival of Rome.—
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The transition will occur around December 1, with the main remnant of the PENN partnership being the linear betting show, ESPN BET Live.—
Cite this Entry
“Leftover.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leftover. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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