# then

/ˈðɛn/ (US) · /ðˈɛn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/then
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. at that time

adverb · CEFR A1

at a specific time in the past or future.

For teachers: at that specific point in time, whether past or future.

- I was living in London then, so I saw the parade in person.
- Life was significantly slower then, before the advent of high-speed internet changed our expectations of immediate communication.

### 2. next in order

adverb · CEFR A1

after that; next in a sequence of events.

For teachers: subsequently; used to indicate the next event in a chronological or spatial sequence.

- We went to the park and then we had some ice cream.
- The researchers gathered the raw data and then spent several months performing a rigorous statistical analysis.

### 3. as a result

adverb · CEFR A2

used to show what happens because of something else.

For teachers: used to introduce a logical consequence or the next step in an argument.

- If you don't like the food, then you shouldn't eat it.
- If the initial hypothesis is proven false, then the entire framework of the experiment must be re-evaluated.

### 4. also or besides

adverb · CEFR B1

used to add another piece of information to what you just said.

For teachers: used to introduce an additional fact or point in an argument.

- It's a very expensive car, and then there is the cost of insurance.
- The project is already behind schedule, and then there is the issue of the dwindling budget to consider.

### 5. at that time

adjective · CEFR B2 · Formal

used to describe someone who had a certain job or role at a specific time in the past.

For teachers: functioning as an attributive adjective to indicate a status or role held at the time mentioned.

- The then-president signed the new law during a special ceremony.
- The decision was heavily criticised by the then-governor, who argued that the state could not afford such an ambitious infrastructure project.

Usage: Usually placed immediately before the noun it modifies, often with a hyphen.

### 6. that time

noun · CEFR B1

that particular time in the past.

For teachers: a specific point in time previously mentioned, functioning as the object of a preposition.

- I haven't seen him since then, but I hope he is doing well.
- By then, the sun had already set, leaving the valley in a deep, purple shadow.

Usage: Almost always follows a preposition like 'since', 'by', or 'until'.

## Examples

- I was living in London then.
- We went for a long walk in the park and then had a nice dinner at a local restaurant.
- If the initial hypothesis proves incorrect, then the research team must re-evaluate the data collected during the first phase of the trial.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.