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 something

His 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

Harry agrees to the timeline, but then puts in a secret call to Conrad. —Matt Cabral, EW.com, 30 Mar. 2025

Searches related to fillers, nose jobs, and tummy tucks initially saw an increase during the pandemic but then went back to pre-pandemic levels. —Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025

In the nightcap, Hockey East playoff champion Maine scored first, but then Penn State took over. —Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 28 Mar. 2025

The Comets grabbed a 1-0 first-quarter lead when Stefan Mijatovic scored his first goal as a Comet, but then Kansas City conceded three straight. —Nathan Dunn, Kansas City Star, 17 Mar. 2025

Rhymes for but then

• again
• airmen
• amen
• bullpen
• culmen
• flagmen
• gunmen
• lawmen
• oilmen
• playpen
• schoolmen
• tegmen