then

\ ˈt͟hen

Definition of then

(Entry 1 of 3)

1 : at that time

2a : soon after that : next in order of time walked to the door, then turned

b : following next after in order of position, narration, or enumeration : being next in a series first came the clowns, and then came the elephants

c : in addition : besides then there is the interest to be paid

3a : as a necessary consequence if the angles are equal, then the complements are equal

b(1) : in that case take it, then, if you want it so much

(2) —used after but to qualify or offset a preceding statementshe lost the race, but then she never really expected to win

c : according to that : as may be inferred your mind is made up, then

d : as it appears : by way of summing up the cause of the accident, then, is established

and then some

: with much more in addition would require all his strength and then some

then

noun

Definition of then (Entry 2 of 3)

: that time since then, he's been more cautious

then

adjective

Definition of then (Entry 3 of 3)

: existing or acting at or belonging to the time mentioned the then secretary of state

Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about then

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Examples of then in a Sentence

Adverb She lived in the Soviet Union, as it then was called. Just then he walked in. Back then, he was living in New York. Noun Since then, I've been more careful. He advised me to wait until then. They'll announce their decision next week. Until then, she'll just have to hope for the best. We should get there before then. They were friends from then on. Nothing like that had ever happened up to then.

Recent Examples on the Web: Adverb Chelsea Shepherd, a 27-year-old from Warsaw, was furloughed and then laid off in April from a temp job at medical device maker Zimmer Biomet. — Alexandria Burris, The Indianapolis Star, "Amid the pandemic, economists say, some job losses will be permanent," 29 June 2020 The ninth-place team must then go 2-0 against the No. 8 team in the play-in to make the playoffs. — Duane Rankin, The Arizona Republic, "Phoenix Suns snubbed in NBA national TV schedule for season restart," 29 June 2020 The Giants are a wild card, clearly short on talent but a team that could flash some early spunk and then ride its wave. — Scott Ostler, SFChronicle.com, "Giants, A’s could strike gold in this mini season," 28 June 2020 After pushing officers away, Moore then took off his sweatshirt and pulled a steak knife from his waistband, according to police. District 1 supervisor, Sgt. — Segann March, The Enquirer, "Cincinnati police sergeant under investigation after firing shotgun round during SWAT standoff," 28 June 2020 If workplaces follow the rules, then workers can return safely, Cameron said. — Mary Kilpatrick, cleveland, "How offices are returning to work safely during coronavirus: Top Workplaces 2020," 28 June 2020 Just barely stale loaves can be wrapped in wet towels, then put in a three-hundred-degree oven to crisp. — Tamar Adler, The New Yorker, "Don’t Throw Out Your Kids’ Uneaten Sandwich Crusts," 28 June 2020 Eighty of the cases involve individuals who visited the bar and then tested positive, WLIX-TV reported. — Fox News, "Coronavirus outbreak at Michigan college bar infects at least 85 people," 28 June 2020 At the start of the roughly 45-second video, a man in a white hat punches another person into the street and then knocks down a second person who does not get up from the ground. — Billy Kobin, The Courier-Journal, "Louisville police seek 2 suspects in connection with assault outside O'Shea's Irish Pub," 28 June 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective Belgium has never fully come to terms with its brutal 19th century rule of Congo, though a statue of the then ruler, King Leopold II, was removed in Antwerp this week. — Alan Crawford, Bloomberg.com, "Brexit Britain Is Forced to Confront Its Inglorious Past," 12 June 2020 In 2016, John Key, New Zealand's then prime minister, announced Predator Free 2050 -- an ambitious project to eradicate predators across the country. — Sarah Lazarus, CNN, "Can tech save the kakapo, New Zealand's 'gorgeous, hilarious' parrot?," 26 Dec. 2019 By then students may have a new high school to move into. — Mará Rose Williams, kansascity, "New project-based high school opens in the Park Hill district," 16 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'then.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.