but then
idiom
1
—used to introduce a statement that adds another and different thought to a preceding statement
I'm surprised to hear that Tom has left the army. But then I suppose he never was the type to obey orders.
—sometimes used to introduce an explanation for somethingHis cakes are amazing—but then he did study with some of the best pastry chefs in the world.
2
—used to introduce a statement that tells about something different or surprising that happened next
The team won the first two games, but then failed to win any of the next five.
Examples of but then in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
For a split second, the dog walker laughed, but then fear took over as Lily approached, revealing the severity of the situation.
—
Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
The divine-smelling duo pumps up thin strands like any volumizing formula, but then uses botanical extracts (pea sprout) and Capixyl (made from a biomimetic peptide and red clover extract) to improve scalp health.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
Not a shabby blast for a fashion mag right out of the starting gate, but then again, 72 isn’t just any mag.
—Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
After the September 2024 rate cut—the most recent analog—mortgage rates briefly dropped but then rebounded, with homebuilder valuations peaking and stocks declining by 20% or more in subsequent months.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2025
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Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
The divine-smelling duo pumps up thin strands like any volumizing formula, but then uses botanical extracts (pea sprout) and Capixyl (made from a biomimetic peptide and red clover extract) to improve scalp health.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
Not a shabby blast for a fashion mag right out of the starting gate, but then again, 72 isn’t just any mag.
—Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
After the September 2024 rate cut—the most recent analog—mortgage rates briefly dropped but then rebounded, with homebuilder valuations peaking and stocks declining by 20% or more in subsequent months.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for but then
Cite this Entry
“But then.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/but%20then. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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