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

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

That crisis ended quickly but then came the September 11th terrorist attacks. —Luisa Kroll, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025

The state prosecutor's office went in with a backhoe, dogs and devices to find inconsistencies in the ground, but then the investigation inexplicably stalled. —arkansasonline.com, 16 Mar. 2025

Smith walked Monasterio with one out in the seventh but then picked him off first. —Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 6 Mar. 2025

Rhymes for but then

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