then

[then]

adverb

1. at that time.

   Prices were lower then.

2. immediately or soon afterward.

   The rain stopped and then started again.

3. next in order of time.

   We ate, then we started home.

4. at the same time.

   At first the water seemed blue, then gray.

5. next in order of place.

   Standing beside Charlie is my uncle, then my cousin, then my brother.

6. in addition; besides; also.

   I love my job, and then it pays so well.

7. in that case; as a consequence; in those circumstances.

   If you're sick, then you should stay in bed.

8. since that is so; as it appears; therefore.

   You have, then, found the mistake?

   You are leaving tonight then.

adjective

1. being; being such; existing or being at the time indicated.

   the then prime minister.

noun

1. that time.

   We have not been back since then.

   Till then, farewell.

then

/ ðɛn /

adverb

1. at that time; over that period of time

2. (sentence modifier) in that case; that being so

   then why don't you ask her?

   if he comes, then you'll have to leave

   go on then, take it

3. See there

1. after that; with that

   then John left the room and didn't return

noun

1. that time

   before then

   from then on

adjective

1. (prenominal) existing, functioning, etc, at that time

   the then prime minister

Word History and Origins

Origin of then¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English than(n)e, then(ne), Old English thonne, thanne, thænne; than; akin to that

Word History and Origins

Origin of then¹

Old English thenne; related to Old Saxon, Old High German thanna; see _than

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. but then, but on the other hand.

   I found their conversation very dull, but then I have different tastes.

2. then and there, at that precise time and place; at once; on the spot: Also there and then.

   I started to pack my things right then and there.

More idioms and phrases containing then

• and then some
• every now and then

Synonym Study

See therefore.

Example Sentences

The young couple fall into lust, then love, over beers in a Latin American cowboy bar, Uyghur street food and then in a shabby basement apartment.

From Los Angeles Times

"So if it gets to a point where we, not even us, can make it work for Wales, then we have to question why it's there."

From BBC

Her account was then closed by the bank due to fraud concerns.

From BBC

He was then rearrested on 4 September after the death of Ms Wilkins.

From BBC

At least 64,231 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza since then, according to the territory's health ministry.

From BBC

Related Words

• again 
• formerly 
• later 
• next 
• suddenly 

When To Use

What’s the difference between then and than?

Then is a very common word that’s used in situations involving what comes next—either in terms of time (as in Just then, the door opened or We saw a movie and then we drove home) or a result (as in If you forget to water the plants, then they will wilt). Than is a very common word used in comparisons, as in She’s a little older than you or This hot sauce is a lot spicier than that one.Grammatically speaking, then is used as an adverb or adjective, while than is used as a conjunction or preposition.Perhaps the most common way the two words are confused is when then is used when it should be than, but doing the reverse is also a common mistake.One way to tell if you’re using the right word is to remember that then is usually used to indicate what comes next, and then and next are both spelled with the letter e.Here’s an example of then and than used correctly in the same sentence.Example: If you want to be an expert, then you’ll need more experience than you have now.Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between then and than.