then

then: then¹ W1S1 [ðen] adv

[: Old English; Origin: thonne, thAnne]

1.) at a particular time in the past or future

▪ I wish I had known then what I know now.

▪ It was then that I realised she'd tricked me.

▪ He started his career in St Petersburg - or Leningrad as it then was.

by/until/since then

▪ They're sending out the results next week, so we won't know anything until then.

▪ It was late evening when the doctor arrived, and by then it was too late.

▪ That was in 1970. Since then the place has changed a lot.

▪ They met in 1942 and from then on (=starting at that time) they were firm friends.

▪ Silently she closed the door. Just then she heard a noise.

▪ I was paid £1000, which was a lot of money back then (=a long time ago when things were different) in the 1950s.

2.) used to say what happens next or what you do next

▪ Mix the flour and butter, then add the eggs.

▪ Byron travelled to Italy and then to Greece.

3.)

a) used when saying what the result of a situation or action will be

▪ If you won't tell him, then I will.

▪ Start off early, then you won't have to rush.

b) spoken used when you think that something is probably true because of what you know about the situation

▪ Still in your pyjamas? Have you just got out of bed then?

4.) but then (again)

used to say that although something is true, something else is also true which makes the first thing seem less important

▪ William didn't succeed first time, but then very few people do.

▪ Elaine's father might lend them the money, but then again he might not.

5.) spoken

a) used at the beginning of a conversation or activity

▪ Now then, what would you like to do today?

▪ Right then, shall we start?

b) used at the end of a conversation, especially to show that something has been agreed

▪ Good, that's settled then. We'll all meet here next Wednesday.

▪ Okay then, I'll see you at work.

c) used to show that you are saying something because of what someone has just said

▪ 'We're late.' 'We'd better hurry, then.'

▪ 'Friday's no good.' 'Then how about Saturday?'

6.) used to add something to what you have just mentioned

▪ We have to invite your parents and my parents, and then there's your brother.

7.) used to refer back to what you have just been talking about

▪ This then was the situation facing the government at the end of the war.

8.) then and there also there and then

immediately

▪ He wasn't prepared to wait - he wanted the money then and there.

→(every) now and then at ↑now¹(5)

then ²

then² adj [only before noun]

used when mentioning the person who had a particular job, title, or position at a time in the past

▪ a visit to China by the then US President, Richard Nixon

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Synonyms:

At that time / Afterwards, afterward, soon afterward / Therefore, for this reason, on that account / At another time, hereafter, sooner or later / That time, In that case, in consequence, therefore

Look at other dictionaries:

then — [ ðen ] function word *** Then can be used in the following ways: as an adverb: I was still at school then. as an adjective (only before a noun): the then prime minister, Harold Wilson 1. ) at that time a ) at a particular time in the past or in… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
then — [then] adv. [ME: see THAN] 1. at that time [he was young then] 2. soon afterward; next in time [he took his hat and then left] 3. next in order [first comes alpha and then beta] 4. in that case; therefore; accordingly: used with conjunctive f … English World dictionary
Then — ([th][e^]n), adv. [Originally the same word as than. See {Than}.] 1. At that time (referring to a time specified, either past or future). [1913 Webster] And the Canaanite was then in the land. Gen. xii. 6. [1913 Webster] Now I know in part; but… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Then — Then, conj. 1. Than. [Obs.] Spenser. [1913 Webster] 2. In that case; in consequence; as a consequence; therefore; for this reason. [1913 Webster] If all this be so, then man has a natural freedom. Locke. [1913 Webster] Now, then, be all thy… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
then — Use of then as an adjective as in the then President, to mean ‘at that time’, has been continuous since the 16c and is acceptable despite occasional objections to it. Less acceptable, however, is the type with an adjective following then,… … Modern English usage
Then — is a common adverb in English, indicating the apodosis of a conditional sentence. It is never equivalent to or synonymous with the conjunction than (although in a small number of accents the two may be considered homophones) nor the adjective… … Wikipedia
then — adverb of time, from O.E. þanne, þænne, þonne, from P.Gmc. *thana (Cf. O.Fris. thenne, O.S. thanna, Du. dan, O.H.G. danne, Ger. dann), from PIE demonstrative pronoun root *to (see THE (Cf. the)). For further sense development, see … Etymology dictionary
then — ► ADVERB 1) at that time. 2) after that; next. 3) also. 4) therefore. ● but then (again) Cf. ↑but then again ● then and there Cf. ↑ … English terms dictionary
then — [adv1] before; at another time again, all at once, anon, at that instant, at that moment, at that point, at that time, before long, formerly, later, next, on that occasion, soon after, suddenly, thereupon, when, years ago; concept 799 then [adv2] … New thesaurus
then — index late (defunct) Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law dictionary
Then- — [vermutlich Kurzw. aus Thiophen ]: Trivialstamm in Bez. von Verb., die sich von 2 Methylthiophen ableiten, z. B. Thenoesäure, Thenyl … Universal-Lexikon

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