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 something

His 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

Those three were released on bail but then rearrested by Hong Kong's anti-corruption authorities, who have also arrested a further eight suspects including scaffolding subcontractors, directors of an engineering consulting company and the renovation project managers. —CBS News, 30 Nov. 2025

The club did play in the Concacaf Champions Cup final earlier this season – routing Inter Miami 5-1 on aggregate in the semifinals to get there – but then got throttled in the title match by Cruz Azul. —Avi Creditor, New York Times, 30 Nov. 2025

Linda Hamilton considered retirement because of a bad hip — but then Stranger Things came calling. —Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Nov. 2025

Olivia is just trying to make it through one last Christmas with her husband's awful family before a big move, but then someone ends up murdered. —Sabienna Bowman, PEOPLE, 29 Nov. 2025

Rhymes for but then

• again
• airmen
• amen
• bullpen
• culmen
• flagmen
• gunmen
• lawmen
• oilmen
• playpen
• schoolmen
• tegmen