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
: as a necessary consequence
if the angles are equal, then the complements are equal
b(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
c
: according to that : as may be inferred
your mind is made up, then
d
: as it appears : by way of summing up
the cause of the accident, then, is established
: that time
since then, he's been more cautious
: existing or acting at or belonging to the time mentioned
the then secretary of state
Examples of then in a Sentence
Adverb
She lived in the Soviet Union, as it then was called.
Just then he walked in.
Back then, he was living in New York.
Noun
Since then, I've been more careful.
He advised me to wait until then.
They'll announce their decision next week. Until then, she'll just have to hope for the best.
We should get there before then.
They were friends from then on.
Nothing like that had ever happened up to then.
Recent Examples on the Web
Henry Flynn, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
But if a studio leans on using a model created by a company like OpenAI — like in the case of Lionsgate’s partnership with Runway — then all bets are off.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 17 Mar. 2025
John Archibald | Jarchibald@al.com, al, 14 Mar. 2023
As soon as Lovato sat down with the then owners and learned about the building’s history, he was hooked.
—Brayden Garcia, Dallas News, 28 Jan. 2021
Lindsey Choo, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025
Those public contradictions led Trump, in part, to dismiss the then director of CISA, Christopher Krebs.
—Jenna McLaughlin, NPR, 11 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for then
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adverb
Until then, Barcelona and the Reds have other targets, namely claiming silverware, before any pieces start moving.
—Henry Flynn, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
But if a studio leans on using a model created by a company like OpenAI — like in the case of Lionsgate’s partnership with Runway — then all bets are off.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 17 Mar. 2025
Noun
But don’t give me thens and nows.
—John Archibald | Jarchibald@al.com, al, 14 Mar. 2023
As soon as Lovato sat down with the then owners and learned about the building’s history, he was hooked.
—Brayden Garcia, Dallas News, 28 Jan. 2021
Adjective
For example, current Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan, along with Alexis Ohanian, his then partner in Initialized Capital Management, invested in a $5 million seed round in 2015.
—Lindsey Choo, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025
Those public contradictions led Trump, in part, to dismiss the then director of CISA, Christopher Krebs.
—Jenna McLaughlin, NPR, 11 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for then
Cite this Entry
“Then.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/then. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
then
1 of 3 adverb1
: at that time
it was then believed the world was flat
2
: soon after that
walked to the door, then turned
3
a
: following next after in order
first came the clowns, then came the elephants
b
: in addition : besides
then there are the pots and pans to wash
4
a
: in that case
take it, then, if you want it so much
b
: according to that
your mind is made up, then
c
: as it appears
the case, then, is closed
d
: as a necessary result
if you were there, then you saw me
then
2 of 3 nounˈt͟hen
: that time
wait until then
then
3 of 3 adjectiveˈt͟hen
: existing or acting at or belonging to the time mentioned
the then governor
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