/ ðen; NAmE / adverb , adjective
■ adverb
1.
used to refer to a particular time in the past or future :
Life was harder then because neither of us had a job.
Things were very different back then .
She grew up in Zimbabwe, or Rhodesia as it then was.
I saw them at Christmas but haven't heard a thing since then .
I've been invited too, so I'll see you then.
There's a room free in Bob's house next week but you can stay with us until then .
Call again next week. They should have reached a decision by then .
Just then (= at that moment) there was a knock at the door.
She left in 1984 and from then on he lived alone.
I took one look at the car and offered to buy it there and then / then and there (= immediately) .
2.
used to introduce the next item in a series of actions, events, instructions, etc. :
He drank a glass of whisky, then another and then another.
First cook the onions, then add the mushrooms.
We lived in France and then Italy before coming back to England.
3.
used to show the logical result of a particular statement or situation :
If you miss that train then you'll have to get a taxi.
'My wife's got a job in Glasgow.' 'I take it you'll be moving, then.'
'You haven't done anything to upset me.' 'So what's wrong, then?'
Why don't you hire a car? Then you'll be able to visit more of the area.
4.
used to introduce additional information :
She's been very busy at work and then there was all that trouble with her son.
5.
( formal ) used to introduce a summary of sth that has just been said :
These, then, are the main areas of concern.
6.
used to show the beginning or end of a conversation, statement, etc. :
Right then, where do you want the table to go?
'I really have to go.' 'OK. Bye, then.'
OK then, I think we've just about covered everything on the agenda.
•
IDIOMS
- ... and then some
- but then | then again | but then again
—more at now adverb
■ adjective
[ only before noun ] used to describe sb who had a particular title, job, etc. at the time in the past that is being discussed :
That decision was taken by the then president.
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English thænne , thanne , thonne , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch dan and German dann , also to that and the .