then - Master This Word
Master this word with our 5-step learning method – Learn English in English
then Word Meanings
- at that time
- next in sequence
- as a result
then Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
then Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/ðen/
US
/ðɛn/
then Word Etymology
Root decomposition: then (related to 'than', which indicates time). Historical origin: Old English 'þæn' → Modern English. Memory image: Imagine a timeline where 'then' is a pivotal point marking the transition from one segment of your life to another.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputEnglish Brain Route
I place my palm on the switch and breathe in. I move my finger, give a soft push, and the lamp clicks on. The light fills the room and I sense a tiny change in what I will do next. Then I set my attention on the next move, letting the moment carry me forward.
Real Context
Then marks a pivot in time, sequence, or consequence. It threads together events, pointing toward what happened next, what followed, or what resulted. In everyday speech you might say 'If you finish your homework, then you can watch TV' to link a condition with its outcome, or 'Back then I lived in a small town' to reference a past moment in a timeline. Positioning of then varies: it can come before the main clause to introduce the result, or after a clause with a comma for a natural pause. Learners often confuse it with 'than' or misplace it in conditional clauses.
Usage Reminders
- - Use then to link a condition to its result.
- - Place then after the conditional clause or at the start of the main clause.
- - Do not confuse then with than.
- - Use commas for natural pause when then separates clauses.
- - Practice with timelines to express time and sequence.
Common Misconceptions
- Confusing with than due to similar spelling
- Assuming then always marks time rather than sequence or consequence
- Placing then after every clause in a sentence
- Thinking then can replace all other connectors like thus or consequently
- Using then to start every conditional sentence without considering clarity
Thinking Differences
Think of then as a flexible time/sequence/consequence marker in English; learners often misplace it or overuse it. In many other languages, time markers are more tightly tied to tense or are expressed with different words, so English learners may rely on then too much or translate it literally.
Learning Tips
- Memrise or build a timeline of events and label each shift with then
- Compare sentences with and without then to feel the pause
- Practice conditional structures: if... then...
- Listen for natural pausing around then in conversations
- Use synonyms like therefore, thus, consequently for variety
- Write short stories that progress in time and mark changes with then
5-Step Learning Method - Learn English in English
Step 1: Meaning
What is the meaning of the word 'then'?
A.Jump
B.Yellow
C.At that time
D.Happy
Step 2: Usage
Which sentence below uses the word 'then' correctly?
A.He ate lunch, and then brushed his teeth.
B.She wanted to laugh the then cat.
C.I walked the then park.
D.They ran away then
Step 3: Similar Words
Which word is most similar to 'then'?
A.Slow
B.Now
C.Big
D.Water
Step 4: Opposite Words
What is the opposite of 'then'?
A.Happy
B.After
C.Before
D.Tall
Step 5: Mastery
Can you think of a real-life context for using the word 'then'?
A.The sun rises in the east.
B.He finished his homework and went to bed.
C.She rode her bike to the store.
D.The dog barked loudly at the mailman.
Related Listening
🌱 Lite (Beginner)
🔥 Advanced
Want to practice more words?
Download LexiTalk app for personalized learning experience
Download App