What does “then” mean?
- 1
adverbat that time in the past or future
I lived in Boston back then.
- 2
adverbnext, or after that
We had lunch, and then we went for a walk.
- 3
adverbin that case; used to show a result
If you’re tired, then go to bed.
Then at a glance
- Part of speech
- adverb
- CEFR level
- A1 (beginner)
- Pronunciation
- /ðɛn/ · THEN
How to use “then” correctly
Don’t confuse “then” (time, next) with “than” (comparisons): “bigger than me”, not “bigger then me”.
Common phrases with “then”
- and then
- since then
- until then
- if … then
“then” is on these word lists
Learn these words next
- again adverbA1one more time; another time
- ago adverbA1before now; used to say how far back in the past something happened
- always adverbA1at all times or every time
- later adverbA1at a time in the future or after the time you are talking about
- never adverbA1not at any time
- now adverbA1at the present time
- often adverbA1many times or in many situations
- PM adverbA1after midday; used after a time between 12 noon and midnight