English dictionary

then Meaning & Definition

ˈt͟hen

What Does Then Mean?

Then is used as an adverb meaning at that time. It is also used to mean soon after that. As a noun, it means that time. As an adjective, it means existing or acting at or belonging to the time mentioned.

Quick Facts About Then

Part of speech	adverb, noun, adjective
Pronunciation	/ˈt͟hen/
Synonyms	and so, so and and then

Then Definition (Adverb)

at that time
soon after that : next in order of time
walked to the door, then turned
following next after in order of position, narration, or enumeration : being next in a series
first came the clowns, and then came the elephants
in addition : besides
then there is the interest to be paid
as a necessary consequence
if the angles are equal, then the complements are equal
in that case
take it, then, if you want it so much
according to that : as may be inferred
your mind is made up, then
as it appears : by way of summing up
the cause of the accident, then, is established

Then as a Noun

that time
since then, he's been more cautious

Then as an Adjective

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

Then in a Sentence

He was happy then.

He fixed it, then left.

Turn left, then right, then right again, then keep going until you reach the service station.

And then came an invitation to tonight's ball.

There are three green ones, then a blue one.

If it’s locked, then we’ll need the key.

Is it 12 o’clock already? Then it’s time for me to leave.

You don’t like potatoes? What do you want me to cook, then?

That’s a nice shirt, but then, so is the other one.

The forms inheritress and inheritrix are used only in literature, and then but rarely.

It will be finished before then.

she's taller than I am; she found his advice more witty than helpful; we have less work today than we had yesterday; We had no choice than to return home

walked to the door, then turned

first came the clowns, and then came the elephants

then there is the interest to be paid

if the angles are equal, then the complements are equal

take it, then, if you want it so much

your mind is made up, then

the cause of the accident, then, is established

since then, he's been more cautious

the then secretary of state

there's the cost of the car itself, and then there's the cost of insurance and maintenance

Word Forms & Grammar

then

thens

and then some

then (not comparable)

Words That Rhyme With Then

den phren ken gren hen again pen amen fen zen once again ben menthen againgen whenpennbullpennow and againjen quill penover againtime and time againten wren comedienne fountain pen again and again businessmen biogen

Origin of Then

Origin 1: Middle English than, then then, than, from Old English thonne, thænne; akin to Old High German denne then, than, Old English thæt that

Origin 2: From Middle English then(ne), than(ne), from Old English þonne, þanne, þænne (“then, at that time”), from Proto-West Germanic *þan, from Proto-Germanic *þan (“at that (time), then”), from earlier *þam, from Proto-Indo-European *tóm, accusative masculine of *só (“demonstrative pronoun, that”).

Origin 3: Cognate with Dutch dan (“then”), German dann (“then”), Swedish då (“then”), Icelandic þá (“then”). Doublet of than.

First Known Use

before 12th century

14th century

1584