51³Ō¹Ļ

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View synonyms for

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

/ ưɛ²Ō /

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

ā€œCollins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridgedā€ 2012 Digital Edition Ā© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 Ā© HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
  1. after that; with that

    then John left the room and didn't return

ā€œCollins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridgedā€ 2012 Digital Edition Ā© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 Ā© HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. that time

    before then

    from then on

ā€œCollins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridgedā€ 2012 Digital Edition Ā© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 Ā© HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adjective

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

    the then prime minister

ā€œCollins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridgedā€ 2012 Digital Edition Ā© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 Ā© HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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51³Ō¹Ļ History and Origins

Origin of then1

First recorded before 900; Middle English than(n)e, then(ne), Old English thonne, thanne, thƦnne; than; akin to that
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51³Ō¹Ļ History and Origins

Origin of then1

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

In addition to the idioms beginning with then, also see and then some; every now and then.
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Synonym Study

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Ktown for All is sourcing donations through Venmo, with account information posted to Instagram, then discreetly distributing them to dozens of street vendors to cover 30 days of rent and bills.

From

Usman Khawaja will turn 39 in December and must be wondering if he will get a tap on the shoulder before then.

From

She then darted over to celebrate with Charles, her husband and coach, and her two children - although youngest daughter Cecilia appeared to have slept through the match in her pushchair.

From

He then joined the Bath Rugby Academy at 14, with his senior debut coming in 2019.

From

An agent outside the business follows him and then another does.

From

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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.

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Ā© Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American HeritageĀ® Idioms Dictionary copyright Ā© 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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Murders in the Rue Morgue, Thethen again