# thence

/ˈðɛns/ (US) · /ðˈɛns/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Adverb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/thence
Updated: 2026-05-09

## Definition

from that place or from that time. It is a very formal word used to show where someone went next or what happened after a specific event.

For teachers: from that place or source; following from that fact or time. Used in formal or literary contexts to indicate a point of origin or a logical consequence.

## Examples

- We went to Paris and thence to Rome.
- The hikers reached the summit by noon and thence descended into the valley before nightfall.
- The river flows into the Great Lake and thence to the sea, carrying with it the sediment of three different mountain ranges.

## Usage notes

- Typically used in formal writing to avoid repeating 'from there'; it can also indicate a logical progression in an argument.

---

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.