Definition of 'then'
1. adverb
2. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
3. adverb [ADVERB before verb]
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.
6. adverb [adv ADV]
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] 8. adverb
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.
10. now and then
11. there and then
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Word Frequency
then in British English
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
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
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word origin
Old English thenne; related to Old Saxon, Old High German thanna; see thanWord Frequency
then in American English
adverb
1.
at that time
he was young then
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:
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 byHoughton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word origin
ME: see thanWord Frequency
then in American English
(t̸hen)
adverb
1.
at that time
Prices were lower then
3.
next in order of time
We ate, then we started home
4.
at the same time
At first the water seemed blue, then gray
5.
next in order of place
Standing beside Charlie is my uncle, then my cousin, then my brother
7.
in that case; as a consequence; in those circumstances
If you're sick, then you should stay in bed
8.
since that is so; as it appears; therefore
You have, then, found the mistake?
You are leaving tonight then
9. See but then
10. See then and there
adjective
11.
being; being such; existing or being at the time indicated
the then prime minister
noun
12.
that time
We have not been back since then. Till then, farewell
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Word origin
[bef. 900; ME then(ne), than(n)e, OE thonne, thanne, thænne; cf. than; akin to that]Examples of 'then' in a sentencethen
These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content.Read more…
Trends ofthen
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In other languagesthen
- 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
Nearby words ofthen
Related terms ofthen
Source
Definition of then from theCollins English Dictionary
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