remainder
rih-MAYN-duh
Remainder (noun) means Whatever is left over once part of something has been taken away or used up. Example: “Please keep the remainder of the cake for tomorrow's lunch.”
noun
1
Whatever is left over once part of something has been taken away or used up.
"Please keep the remainder of the cake for tomorrow's lunch."
"The remainder of the class waited outside until the teacher arrived."
"She spent the remainder of her afternoon answering emails."
2
In arithmetic, the number left over when one number doesn't divide evenly into another.
"If you divide ten by three, the remainder is one."
"The pupils had to write the remainder after each long division."
"17 divided by 5 is 3, with a remainder of 2."
3
Unsold copies of a book or other stock, later sold off cheaply.
"The publisher sold the remainder of the print run to a discount shop."
"I found a lovely cookbook among the remainders for next to nothing."
"The bookshop had a whole table of remainders marked down to a few pounds."
How to use remainder
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWhat's left over — whether it's time, a number in a division sum, or unsold books.
Common pairings
the remainder of
remainder bin
divide with a remainder
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Word forms
- Plural
- remainders
- Third person singular
- remainders
- Past tense
- remaindered
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Please keep the _____ of the cake for tomorrow's lunch.
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman remaindre, an infinitive used as a noun meaning "that which stays behind."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for remainder
See all rhymes for remainder →Frequently asked questions
What does “remainder” mean?
The word “remainder” means whatever is left over once part of something has been taken away or used up. In plain terms, what's left over — whether it's time, a number in a division sum, or unsold books.
How do you pronounce “remainder”?
“Remainder” is pronounced rih-MAYN-duh (/ɹəˈmeɪndɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “remainder” in a sentence?
Here is “remainder” used in a sentence: “She spent the remainder of her afternoon answering emails.”
What is another word for “remainder”?
Words with a similar meaning to “remainder” include residue, rest, lave, surplus, leavings and leftover.
What is the opposite of “remainder”?
The opposite of “remainder” — its antonyms — are dearth, deficiency, deficit, shortage and undersupply.
What part of speech is “remainder”?
“Remainder” is a noun.
Where does the word “remainder” come from?
The word “remainder” comes from Anglo-Norman. From Anglo-Norman remaindre, an infinitive used as a noun meaning "that which stays behind.".
Is “remainder” a common word?
“Remainder” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between remainder and the rest?
They mean the same thing — whatever is left over once part of something has been taken away — but they differ in register. "The rest" is the everyday choice, while "the remainder" is more formal and common in written, mathematical, or legal contexts.
What is a remainder in math?
In arithmetic, the remainder is the number left over when one number does not divide evenly into another. For example, 17 divided by 5 gives 3 with a remainder of 2, because 5 goes into 17 three times with 2 left over.
What is the difference between remainder and remnant?
A remainder is simply whatever is left after part of something is removed or used up, with no suggestion about its size or condition. A remnant is typically a small surviving piece or trace of something that is mostly gone, such as a remnant of fabric or the remnants of an empire.
What is a remaindered book?
A remaindered book is unsold stock that a publisher sells off cheaply, often after demand has fallen. This use comes from the sense of remainder meaning leftover, unsold copies of a book or other goods.
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