How to Use but then in a Sentence

but then

idiom
  • His various relationships arrest our attention but then tend to fall by the narrative wayside, so that what we’re left with is a man talking to himself, a soliloquy with cameos.
    Giles Harvey, The New Yorker, 23 Sep. 2024
  • Her plan was to be back to work by now, but then the strike happened.
    Brande Victorian, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Aug. 2023
  • Only a liar would deny it, but then the job just had to be done.
    David Martin, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2023
  • We kind of like each other in real life, but then there’s the show.
    Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 21 May 2024
  • And some of these very same folks who want to help Israel, but then want to walk away from Ukraine?
    CBS News, 12 Nov. 2023
  • Style over substance for sure, but then again, what style!
    Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 9 Aug. 2024
  • When police were called to the scene, Scott was asked to leave, and did, but then continued to yell at the crew on the yacht.
    Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 9 Aug. 2024
  • Kim’s third shot landed within 10 feet of the flag, but then rolled back some 40 feet away.
    Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Jan. 2024
  • Matthew bogeyed two holes on the front nine, but then picked up four birdies and just one bogey on the back nine.
    Jodom, oregonlive, 25 Aug. 2023
  • Sherrod stole it again with 43 seconds to go but then got hurt again in the scramble and had to be helped off the court.
    Matthew Coles, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2024
  • According to reports, the victim gave Carter the shoes but then reached into the car and took one of the shoes back.
    Stepheny Price, Fox News, 27 Mar. 2024
  • The film hit a particular note but then didn’t vary that note.
    Zac Ntim, Deadline, 19 Aug. 2024
  • You were born in Queens, but then moved to South Carolina at a very early age.
    Fortune Editors, Fortune, 7 Dec. 2023
  • Some customers do note that the comforter may be too thin — but then again that may be ideal.
    Good Housekeeping, 7 Sep. 2023
  • The girl is seen smiling at first, but then appears confused.
    Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 26 Sep. 2023
  • The man then went outside, but then pulled out a gun and went back into the house toward his girlfriend’s mom.
    Jennifer Rodriguez, Charlotte Observer, 26 May 2024
  • Erik Carrier grew up in Lake Forest, moved away but then moved back to town in 2020.
    Daniel I. Dorfman, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2023
  • Astronomers first coined this term in the 1980s, but then, for decades, it was largely forgotten.
    Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Nov. 2023
  • Democrats will have a post-convention boost, but then the race will likely tighten.
    Candy Woodall, Baltimore Sun, 27 July 2024
  • There was talk of walking the track to survey the route, but then Gatting found a leather recliner and sank into it.
    Vera Carothers, The New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2023
  • That’s serious money for a toy, but then, this does look to be a very serious toy.
    Mike Duff, Car and Driver, 9 July 2023
  • Two of the IPOs – cloud computing and logistics – were announced, but then scrapped.
    Patrick Frater, Variety, 14 May 2024
  • Not exactly Citizen Kane, but then again, it’s not meant to be.
    Audra Heinrichs, Vogue, 6 Dec. 2023
  • Now cars must be fast, but then objective was really the beauty of the object.
    Cait Bazemore, Robb Report, 13 Sep. 2024
  • At times while talking, Hosier is matter-of-fact, but then turns emotional.
    Katie Moore, Kansas City Star, 26 May 2024
  • In Hindu mythology, a serpent god, Rahu Ketu, wanted to eat the sun — but then his head was cut off.
    Bill Chappell, NPR, 8 Apr. 2024
  • Szymon also moved to Warsaw for a time but then returned to Drozdowo to grow leeks on the family farm.
    Andrew Higgins, New York Times, 29 Oct. 2023
  • Erik Thommy made it 3-2, finishing a one-on-one chance, but then came the old storyline that has popped up for Sporting.
    Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 21 Apr. 2024
  • Water them infrequently, but then give them a big, long drink.
    House Beautiful, 18 July 2023
  • The grass will attempt to grow using the fertilizer but then will quickly wither and die due to lack of moisture.
    Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 July 2024

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'but then.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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