Then means at a particular time in the past or in the future.
He wanted an income after his retirement; until then, he wouldn't require additionalmoney.
The clinic opened for business last October and since then has treated more than200 people.
I spent years on the dole trying to get bands together and I never worried aboutmoney then.
Synonyms: at that time, in those days, at that point, at that moment More Synonyms of then
2. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
Then is used when you refer to something which was true at a particular time in the past but is not true now.
The bill was enacted by the then Labour Government.
He was known by many for his role in the then record-breaking robbery of the mailtrain from Glasgow to London in August 1963.
Then is also an adverb.
Richard Strauss, then 76 years old, suffered through the war years in silence.
Roberts was then a newly married man.
3. adverb [ADVERB before verb]
You use then to say that one thing happens after another, or is after another on a list.
Add the oil and then the scallops to the pan, leaving a little space for the garlic.
I felt myself blush. Then I sniffed back a tear.
The couple worked at first individually and then together.
Synonyms: after that, later, next, afterwards More Synonyms of then
4. adverb
You use then in conversation to indicate that what you are about to say follows logically in some way from what has just been said or implied.
'I wasn't a very good scholar at school.'—'What did you like doing best then?'
You're not gonna tell me, are you? Do I have to guess, then?
'I got a load of money out of them.'—'So you're okay, then.'
5. adverb
You use then at the end of a topic or at the end of a conversation.
'I can meet you after work. Six o'clock?'—'Fine.'—'Six o'clock, then?'.
He stood up. 'That's settled then.'.
'I'll talk to you on Friday anyway.'—'Yep. Okay then.'
6. adverb [adv ADV]
You use then with words like 'now', 'well', and 'okay', to introduce a new topic or a new point of view.
Now then, you say you walk on the fields out the back?
Well then, I'll put the kettle on and make us some tea.
Okay then let me ask how you do that.
7. adverb [ADVERB with cl]
You use then to introduce a summary of what you have said or the conclusions that you are drawing from it.
[written]
This, then, was the music that dominated in the mid-1960s.
By 1931, then, France alone in Europe was a country of massive immigration.
8. adverb
You use then to introduce the second part of a sentence which begins with 'if'. The first part of the sentence describes a possible situation, and then introduces the result of the situation.
If the answer is 'yes', then we must decide on an appropriate course of action.
Synonyms: in that case, that being so, that being the case, it follows that More Synonyms of then
9. adverb
You use then at the beginning of a sentence or after 'and' or 'but' to introduce a comment or an extra piece of information to what you have already said.
We have to do a lot of reading, and then we have essays to write.
He sounded sincere, but then, he always did.
Synonyms: in addition, also, as well, moreover More Synonyms of then
10. now and then
11. there and then
then in British English
(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. then and there
sentence connector
4.
after that; with that
then John left the room and didn't return
noun
5.
that time
before then
from then on
adjective
6. (prenominal)
existing, functioning, etc, at that time
the then prime minister
Word origin
Old English thenne; related to Old Saxon, Old High German thanna; see than
then in American English
(ðɛn)
adverb
1.
at that time
he was young then
2.
soon afterward; next in time
he took his hat and then left
3.
next in order
first comes alpha and then beta
4.
in that case; therefore; accordingly
used with conjunctive force
if it rains, then there will be no picnic
5.
besides; moreover
he likes to walk, and then it's good exercise
6.
at another time or at other times
used as a correlative with now, sometimes, etc.
now it's warm, then freezing
adjective
7.
of that time; being such at that time
the then director
noun
8.
that time
by then, they were gone
Idioms:
but then
then again
then and there
what then?
Word origin
ME: see than
Examples of 'then' in a sentence
then
Then we take a chill pill for a second and we just listen.
The Sun (2016)
This can then be used to warn people that the driver is about to open the door.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He must up his game between now and then.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Your staff told me to eat less and then you would like me more.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Spot that and then get out of its way was his method.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Staff have not been paid since then and many health workers have gone home.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
If an arm span represents time then we are just the shaving of a fingernail.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We chatted for hours then went back to his.
The Sun (2016)
Stir the rice into the vegetables then add the brown crab meat.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Warm through then return the meat.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The test should then be used to confirm your judgment.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Work out what it was and list all the differences between then and now.
The Sun (2009)
That was quite a bit of money then.
Kiam, Victor Going For It!: How to Succeed As an Entrepreneur (1986)
Until then it felt like we were shut off from the outside world.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
We needed to go wide and then get in the box.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Some studies have also raised the alarm over drinking too many energy drinks then doing exercise.
The Sun (2009)
My dad and brother built up one company after another and then closed them down.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Then he yelled back and told me to shut up.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
They also include people who arrive to work for under a year and then return home.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Top bun with tomato slice and salad then add burger.
The Sun (2015)
Then the minister prayed and began to read the ancient and somewhat pagan service.
Smout, T.C. & Wood, Sydney Scottish Voices 1745-1960 (1990)
We will wait and get to know the other people and organisations and then choose another president.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
What other risks has he taken then?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The tan then comes through over three or four hours producing a natural golden shade.
The Sun (2009)
There was gunfire outside and then at times quiet.
The Sun (2013)
But then ways must be found to change the situation.
Bain, Roly Fools Rush In - A Call to Christian Clowning (1993)
That was a great deal of money then.
Smout, T.C. & Wood, Sydney Scottish Voices 1745-1960 (1990)
Then you get to a certain point where you are happy and know what you do.
The Sun (2014)
If there are still too many advantages then change will be impossible.
Wilkinson, Helena Beyond Chaotic Eating (1993)
If now and then they differ from mine, so what?
The Sun (2013)
The second thing we want to do then after we have thought about what the kingdom means is to look for its signs in our own lives.
Christianity Today (2000)
In other languages
then
British English: then /ðɛn/ ADVERB
Then means at that time.
He wasn't as rich then as he is now.
American English: then
Arabic: وَقْتَذَاكَ
Brazilian Portuguese: então
Chinese: 那么
Croatian: onda
Czech: tehdy
Danish: da
Dutch: toen
European Spanish: entonces
Finnish: silloin
French: alors
German: dann
Greek: τότε
Italian: allora
Japanese: その時
Korean: 그 때에
Norwegian: da
Polish: wtedy
European Portuguese: então
Romanian: atunci
Russian: тогда
Latin American Spanish: entonces
Swedish: då
Thai: ในขณะนั้น
Turkish: öyleyse
Ukrainian: тоді
Vietnamese: lúc đó
British English: then /ðɛn/ CONJUNCTION
You use then to say that one thing happens after another.
She said good night, then went to bed.
American English: then
Arabic: ثُمّ
Brazilian Portuguese: depois
Chinese: 然后
Croatian: tada
Czech: načež
Danish: så
Dutch: daarna
European Spanish: y después
Finnish: sitten
French: ensuite
German: folglich
Greek: τότε
Italian: allora
Japanese: それから
Korean: 게다가
Norwegian: så
Polish: zatem
European Portuguese: depois
Romanian: apoi
Russian: затем
Latin American Spanish: así que
Swedish: då
Thai: หลังจากนั้น
Turkish: ondan sonra
Ukrainian: потім
Vietnamese: sau đó
All related terms of 'then'
but then
You use but then before a remark which suggests that what you have just said should not be regarded as surprising .
even then
You use even then to say that something is the case in spite of what has just been stated or whatever the circumstances may be.
now then
used to preface an important remark , the next step in an argument, etc
what then?
what would happen in that case?
then again
on the other hand
now and then
sometimes ; occasionally
and then some
and more than that
then and there
at that time and in that place; at once
there and then
If something happens there and then or then and there , it happens immediately.
but then/but then again
You use but then or but then again before a remark which slightly contradicts what you have just said .
every now and then
from time to time; occasionally
every now and then etc
You use every in the expressions every now and then , every now and again , every once in a while , and every so often in order to indicate that something happens occasionally .
now and again
If you say that something happens now and then or every now and again , you mean that it happens sometimes but not very often or regularly.
Chinese translation of 'then'
then
(ðɛn)
adv
(= at that time) (past) 当(當)时(時) (dāngshí)
⇒ Life was simpler then.当时的生活较为简单。 (Dāngshí de shēnghuó jiào wéi jiǎndān.)
(future) 那时(時) (nàshí)
⇒ I'm coming up on Friday so I'll see you then.我星期五会来的，那就那时见吧。 (Wǒ xīngqīwǔ huì lái de, nà jiù nàshí jiàn ba.)
(= after that) 之后(後) (zhīhòu)
⇒ He thought a bit and then answered.他想了一会儿之后答应了。 (Tā xiǎngle yīhuìr zhīhòu dāyìng le.)
⇒ I'll give him a call and then we'll know what's happening.我给他打个电话，之后我们就会知道是什么事了。 (Wǒ gěi tā dǎ gè diànhuà, zhīhòu wǒmen jiù huì zhīdào shì shénme shì le.)
(= therefore) 就是 (jiùshì)
⇒ This, then, is what you must do.这就是你要做的。 (Zhè jiùshì nǐ yào zuò de.)