than

1 of 2

conjunction

t͟hən, 

ˈt͟han 

1

a

—used as a function word to indicate the second member or the member taken as the point of departure in a comparison expressive of inequality

—used with comparative adjectives and comparative adverbs

older than I am

easier said than done

b

—used as a function word to indicate difference of kind, manner, or identity

—used especially with some adjectives and adverbs that express diversity

anywhere else than at home

2

: rather than

—usually used only after prefer, preferable, and preferably

3

: other than

4

: when sense 1b

—used especially after scarcely and hardly

Note: Do not confuse than with then, which is used to talk about time ("waiting until then," "back then, before the changes," "the then mayor = the person who was mayor then").

than

2 of 2

preposition

: in comparison with

you are older than me

Is than a conjunction or preposition?: Usage Guide

After 200 years of innocent if occasional use, the preposition than was called into question by 18th century grammarians. Some 200 years of elaborate reasoning have led to these present-day inconsistent conclusions: than whom is standard but clumsy

T. S. Eliot, than whom nobody could have been more insularly English

—Anthony Burgess

; than me may be acceptable in speech

a man no mightier than thyself or me

—William Shakespeare

why should a man be better than me because he's richer than me

—William Faulkner, in a talk to students

; than followed by a third-person objective pronoun (her, him, them) is usually frowned upon. Surveyed opinion tends to agree with these conclusions. Our evidence shows that than is used as a conjunction more commonly than as a preposition, that than whom is chiefly limited to writing, and that me is more common after the preposition than the third-person objective pronouns. In short, you can use than either as a conjunction or as a preposition.

Word History

Etymology

Conjunction

Middle English than, then then, than — more at then entry 1

First Known Use

Conjunction

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Preposition

1560, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for than

• an
• ban
• bran
• can
• cann
• clan
• duan
• fan
• flan
• gran
• jann
• klan

Kids Definition

than

1 of 2 conjunction

t͟hən 

(ˈ)t͟han

1

: when compared to the way, extent, or degree in or to which

10 is less than 20

older than I am

easier said than done

2

: different from in kind, manner, or identity

adults other than parents

than

2 of 2 preposition

: in comparison with

you are taller than me