then

adverb

1. at that time: Prices were lower then.
2. immediately or soon afterward: The rain stopped and then started again.
3. next in order of time: We ate, then we started home.
4. at the same time: At first the water seemed blue, then gray.
5. next in order of place: Standing beside Charlie is my uncle, then my cousin, then my brother.
6. in addition; besides; also: I love my job, and then it pays so well.
7. in that case; as a consequence; in those circumstances: If you’re sick, then you should stay in bed.
8. since that is so; as it appears; therefore: You have, then, found the mistake? You are leaving tonight then.

adjective

9. being; being such; existing or being at the time indicated: the then prime minister.

noun

10. that time: We have not been back since then. Till then, farewell.

Idioms

11. but then, but on the other hand: I found their conversation very dull, but then I have different tastes.
12. then and there, at that precise time and place; at once; on the spot: I started to pack my things right then and there.Also there and then.

adverb

1. at that time; over that period of time
2. (sentence modifier) in that case; that being sothen why don’t you ask her?; if he comes, then you’ll have to leave; go on then, take it
3. then and there See there (def. 6)

sentence connector

4. after that; with thatthen John left the room and didn’t return

noun

5. that timebefore then; from then on

adjective

6. (prenominal) existing, functioning, etc, at that timethe then prime minister

adverb of time, from Old English þanne, þænne, þonne, from Proto-Germanic *thana- (cf. Old Frisian thenne, Old Saxon thanna, Dutch dan, Old High German danne, German dann), from PIE demonstrative pronoun root *to- (see the). For further sense development, see than. Similar evolutions in other Germanic languages; Dutch uses dan in both senses, but German has dann (adv.) “then,” denn (conj.) “than.” Now and then “at various times” is attested from 1550s; earlier then and then (c.1200). In addition to the idioms beginning with then

then again

then and there

also see:

and then some

every now and then