then

¹then

adv \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