1
: at that time
2
a
: 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
3
a
: 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 statement
she 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
: that time
since then, he's been more cautious
: existing or acting at or belonging to the time mentioned
the then secretary of state
Synonyms
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
Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY, 11 July 2024
The controller then gave another go-ahead for departure from runway 28 — the same runway designated for the American plane — to Delta Connection 5421, another CRJ-700 operated by Endeavor Air, which is a regional branch of Delta.
—Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 10 July 2024
John Archibald | Jarchibald@al.com, al, 14 Mar. 2023
As soon as Lovato sat down with the then owners and learned about the building’s history, he was hooked.
—Brayden Garcia, Dallas News, 28 Jan. 2021
Kyndall Cunningham, Vox, 21 May 2024
What Russia always neglects to mention is that the Soviet Union, together with its then ally Nazi Germany, started World War II.
—Kaja Kallas, Foreign Affairs, 8 Dec. 2022
See all Example Sentences for then 
Adverb
Several rangers then exchanged gunfire with Fussner, who was shot and died at the scene.
—Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY, 11 July 2024
The controller then gave another go-ahead for departure from runway 28 — the same runway designated for the American plane — to Delta Connection 5421, another CRJ-700 operated by Endeavor Air, which is a regional branch of Delta.
—Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 10 July 2024
Noun
But don’t give me thens and nows.
—John Archibald | Jarchibald@al.com, al, 14 Mar. 2023
As soon as Lovato sat down with the then owners and learned about the building’s history, he was hooked.
—Brayden Garcia, Dallas News, 28 Jan. 2021
Adjective
During season nine, both Toms purchased $2 million farmhouses in San Fernando Valley with their then partners, Maloney and Madix.
—Kyndall Cunningham, Vox, 21 May 2024
What Russia always neglects to mention is that the Soviet Union, together with its then ally Nazi Germany, started World War II.
—Kaja Kallas, Foreign Affairs, 8 Dec. 2022
See all Example Sentences for then
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'then.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near then
Cite this Entry
“Then.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/then. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
then
1 of 3 adverb1
: at that time
it was then believed the world was flat
2
: soon after that
walked to the door, then turned
3
a
: following next after in order
first came the clowns, then came the elephants
b
: in addition : besides
then there are the pots and pans to wash
4
a
: in that case
take it, then, if you want it so much
b
: according to that
your mind is made up, then
c
: as it appears
the case, then, is closed
d
: as a necessary result
if you were there, then you saw me
then
2 of 3 nounˈt͟hen
: that time
wait until then
then
3 of 3 adjectiveˈt͟hen
: existing or acting at or belonging to the time mentioned
the then governor
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