odds and ends

plural noun

1
a
: miscellaneous articles
b
: miscellaneous small matters (as of business) to be attended to
2
: miscellaneous remnants or leftovers
odds and ends of food

Examples of odds and ends in a Sentence

she's always searching among the odds and ends in the drawer for some tool that she needs almost all of the piece of leather will be needed for upholstering the chair, so just throw away any odds and ends

Word History

First Known Use

1761, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of odds and ends was in 1761

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Odds and ends.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/odds%20and%20ends. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

odds and ends

plural noun
: miscellaneous articles, leftovers, or things to do

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