thenadverb, adjective [ before noun ]
uk/ðen/us/ðen/A1 (at) that time (in the past or in the future):
I was working in the city then.
formal I wanted to live in the city, but my then husband (= the man who was my husband at that time) preferred the country.
Give it to me next week - I won't have time to read it before/until then.
I'll call you tomorrow - I should have the details by then.
More examples
- He's always harking back to his childhood and saying how things were better then.
- Just then, the lights went out.
- The train leaves at three minutes to eight, so we'd better get there a few minutes before then.
- If you come to the surgery at 10.30, the doctor will see you then.
- They used to live in a big house with lots of servants, but they've come down in the world since then.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
In the past
- ago
- any more idiom
- anymore
- back in the day idiom
- before
- clock
- dot
- flood
- late
- memory
- more
- no longer idiom
- of late idiom
- of old idiom
- old
- the mists of time idiom
- the status quo ante
- the week/month/year before last idiom
- the year dot idiom
- use
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
In the future & soon
Idiom(s)
from then on
then and there
thenadverb
uk/ðen/us/ðen/then adverb (NEXT)
A1 next or after that:
Let me finish this job, then we'll go.
Give her the letter to read, then she'll understand.
More examples
- Study the examples first of all, then attempt the exercises on the next page.
- Follow the road for two kilometres, then turn left.
- The children will first sing individually and then together as a group.
- We took the ferry across the Channel and then joined the Paris train at Calais.
- First apply shampoo to hair and then rinse thoroughly.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Linguistics: connecting words joining words or phrases with similar or related meanings
- and/or 2
- anyways
- concatenate
- conjunctive
- connective
- consequently
- ergo
- hereby
- I mean idiom
- mean
- moreover
- never
- now
- so
- sure enough idiom
- the thing is idiom
- there
- thing
- what
- with that idiom
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then adverb (IN ADDITION)
B2 in addition:
This is the standard model - then there's the deluxe version which costs more.
More examples
- We have a town house, a country cottage, and then there's our villa in Spain.
- She's a writer mainly - then she paints, and does some excellent photography too.
- I've got to get everything ready for our visitors, and then I haven't finished writing that report yet.
- If you're looking for something smaller, then there's a compact 36 cm screen size, ideal for bedroom or kitchen use.
- Let's see - there were Mary, Jack, Greg and myself - then there were the children, Amy, John and Laura, plus the two dogs.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Also, extra, and in addition
- added
- additional
- again
- along
- also
- case
- excess
- for good measure idiom
- for luck idiom
- furthermore
- hand
- have sth in hand idiom
- say
- second 1
- side
- the icing on the cake idiom
- thirdly
- to boot idiom
- to cap it all idiom
- to say nothing of ... idiom
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then adverb (RESULT)
A2 as a result; in that case; also used as a way of joining a statement to an earlier piece of conversation:
Have a rest now, and then you won't be so tired tonight.
You'll be selling your house, then?
More examples
- If you plan the project well, then everything should fall into place.
- Try and get some sleep on the plane, then you'll arrive feeling fresh.
- I'll leave you to get on then, shall I?
- If there are only five of us going to the concert, then I've booked one too many seats.
- If 2x = 8, then x = 4.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Linguistics: connecting words joining words or phrases with similar or related meanings
- and/or 2
- anyways
- concatenate
- conjunctive
- connective
- consequently
- ergo
- hereby
- I mean idiom
- mean
- moreover
- never
- now
- so
- sure enough idiom
- the thing is idiom
- there
- thing
- what
- with that idiom
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Idiom(s)
but then (again)