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then

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adjective, adverb American English pronunciation: then /ðen/
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
 
Other entries for this word
  1. 1
    at that time
    1. a.
      at a particular time in the past or in the future

      "Did you hear him when he left the house?" "Yes, I heard him then and when he came back."

      a political refugee who was then living in the United States

      until/since/by/before then:

      I can see you next weekend. Can you wait until then?

      Back in 1950 Bourton was a sleepy little village, but things have changed a lot since then.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of then
    2. b.
      used for referring to the person who had a particular job or position at a particular time in the past
      the then president/governor/owner etc.:

      the then Secretary of State, Warren Christopher

      My grandfather rented 120 Church Street from the then owners, W. Collins and Sons.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of then
  2. 2
    used for introducing the next thing that happens

    He glanced quickly at Sally and then looked away again.

    Add the numbers together first – then multiply.

    First Lewis will give a TV interview. Then comes the main news conference.

  3. 3
    as a result
    1. a.
      spoken used at the end of a question when you think something must be true because of what has just been said

      "We went to the same school." "You're old friends then?"

      You're not angry with me, then?

    2. b.
      used for saying what the result must be if something is true

      "He won't resign." "Then we'll have to force him to leave."

      if... then:

      If no one else is willing, then I'll have to do the job myself.

    3. c.
      literary used when you are giving the result of the events that you have been describing

      This, then, was the problem that faced him – he could not do his duty without betraying his friends.

  4. 4
    spoken used at the end of a conversation for showing that you think something has been agreed on

    All right then, I'll see you back at the hotel.

    So that's agreed then – dinner for eight on Christmas Day.

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This is the American English definition of then. View British English definition of then.

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View the pronunciation for then.

 

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