then

¹then

adverb \ˈthen\

Definition of THEN

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 (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>

b : according to that : as may be inferred <your mind is made up, then>

c : as it appears : by way of summing up <the cause of the accident, then, is established>

d : as a necessary consequence <if the angles are equal, then the complements are equal>

— and then some

: with much more in addition <would require all his strength and then some>

Examples of THEN

1. She lived in the Soviet Union, as it then was called.
2. Just then he walked in.
3. Back then, he was living in New York.

Origin of THEN

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

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to THEN

Synonyms

additionally, again, also, besides, either, further, furthermore, likewise, moreover, more, too, withal, yet

Rhymes with THEN

ben, den, en, fen, Fenn, gen, glen, hen, ken, Ken, n, pen, Rennes, Seine, sen, Sten, ten, wen, when, wren, Wren, yen, Zen

²then

noun

Definition of THEN

: that time <since then, he's been more cautious>

Examples of THEN

1. Since then, I've been more careful.
2. He advised me to wait until then.
3. They'll announce their decision next week. Until then, she'll just have to hope for the best.
4. We should get there before then.
5. They were friends from then on.
6. Nothing like that had ever happened up to then.

First Known Use of THEN

14th century

³then

adjective

Definition of THEN

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

First Known Use of THEN

1584