then

Examples

• All

• All right, see you then for Kenzie.

• Not my world, I thought then, for I was American, the first Yankee in my family.

  Academic text (2011)

• I hope by then you wanna be on the moon.

• Oh gosh, I had one and then I lost it.

• But the U.S. drug problem was at least as severe then as it is now.

  Academic text (2011)

• Then we can leave immediately.

  Stagecoach (1939)

• Then the next day they said he transferred out.

  Harmony (2022)

• If you liked it then, you'll like it now and vice versa.

• Then I met you.

  Jacket (2018)

• If you finish your homework early, then you can go outside to play.

Synonyms

J

just then

vsthen

52 1.7

At the exact moment something happens

is a more general time marker referring to that time in past or future

T

then and there

vsthen

• Informal

45 3.2

Do something immediately at that moment

is used simply to state a time rather than demand immediate action

Idioms

N

now and then

• Informal

285 1.0

Happens sometimes but not very often

E

every now and then

137 2.0

Sometimes, not very often

J

just then

52 1.7

At the exact moment something happens

T

then again

• Informal

46 3.2

To show a different idea or possibility

T

then and there

• Informal

45 3.2

Do something immediately at that moment

A

and then some

• Informal

30 5.2

More than expected or mentioned

G

go on then

• UK

6 7.7

To tell someone to start or continue after they hesitate

How Precise

just then

52 1.7

moment

∞ 1.0

at this point in time

42 3.5

then

∞ 1.0

sometime

791 2.2

Surface Forms

Etymology