but then
idiom
1
—used to introduce a statement that adds another and different thought to a preceding statement
I'm surprised to hear that Tom has left the army. But then I suppose he never was the type to obey orders.
—sometimes used to introduce an explanation for somethingHis cakes are amazing—but then he did study with some of the best pastry chefs in the world.
2
—used to introduce a statement that tells about something different or surprising that happened next
The team won the first two games, but then failed to win any of the next five.
Examples of but then in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The company’s shares initially fell on the news but then recovered, climbing as much as 1%.
—
Mitchell Ferman, Fortune, 28 May 2024
Excitement built at the start, but then naturally, their first attempts failed.
—Nancy Kruh, Peoplemag, 28 May 2024
Georgia’s parliament is controlled by the ruling Georgian Dream party, which had campaigned on a pro-EU platform, but then began taking steps to weaken a membership bid, culminating in this bill.
—Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2024
At times while talking, Hosier is matter-of-fact, but then turns emotional.
—Katie Moore, Kansas City Star, 26 May 2024
The man then went outside, but then pulled out a gun and went back into the house toward his girlfriend’s mom.
—Jennifer Rodriguez, Charlotte Observer, 26 May 2024
We kind of like each other in real life, but then there’s the show.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 21 May 2024
Two of the IPOs – cloud computing and logistics – were announced, but then scrapped.
—Patrick Frater, Variety, 14 May 2024
Crew members restored power by manually closing two breakers, but then a second blackout occurred due to insufficient fuel pressure in one of the ship's generators.
—Emily Le Coz, USA TODAY, 14 May 2024
Mitchell Ferman, Fortune, 28 May 2024
Excitement built at the start, but then naturally, their first attempts failed.
—Nancy Kruh, Peoplemag, 28 May 2024
Georgia’s parliament is controlled by the ruling Georgian Dream party, which had campaigned on a pro-EU platform, but then began taking steps to weaken a membership bid, culminating in this bill.
—Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2024
At times while talking, Hosier is matter-of-fact, but then turns emotional.
—Katie Moore, Kansas City Star, 26 May 2024
The man then went outside, but then pulled out a gun and went back into the house toward his girlfriend’s mom.
—Jennifer Rodriguez, Charlotte Observer, 26 May 2024
We kind of like each other in real life, but then there’s the show.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 21 May 2024
Two of the IPOs – cloud computing and logistics – were announced, but then scrapped.
—Patrick Frater, Variety, 14 May 2024
Crew members restored power by manually closing two breakers, but then a second blackout occurred due to insufficient fuel pressure in one of the ship's generators.
—Emily Le Coz, USA TODAY, 14 May 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'but then.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near but then
Cite this Entry
“But then.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/but%20then. Accessed 1 Jun. 2024.
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