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and then
/ænd ðɛn/
sequence indicator
I woke up, brushed my teeth, and then had breakfast.
The phrase shows the order of actions happening one after another.
neutral
Used to indicate that one thing happens after another in time or sequence.
She finished her homework and then went to bed.
The actions are listed in chronological order.
First, add the flour, and then mix in the eggs.
The phrase guides the sequence of steps in a process.
Often used in instructions, narratives, or explanations to show progression. Can be replaced with 'after that' or 'next' without changing the meaning.
Collocations
and then someand even more than thatand then what?what happens next?
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Use in sequences
Use 'and then' to clearly show the order of events in a story, recipe, or instructions. It helps the listener or reader follow the sequence easily.
Gold Rule
Avoid redundancy
While 'and then' is useful, avoid overusing it in a single sentence or paragraph. Use it only when the sequence of actions is important to the meaning.
Word Origin
The phrase is a combination of the English conjunction 'and' (from Old English 'and') and the adverb 'then' (from Old English 'þonne', meaning 'at that time'). The phrase has been used in its current form since at least the 14th century to indicate sequential actions.
Usage Notes
The phrase is very common in both spoken and written English. It is often used in storytelling, instructions, and everyday conversation to clearly indicate the order of events. It can sometimes be shortened to 'and then' in informal speech.
Word Breakdown
and
a conjunction used to connect words or phrases
conjunctionthen
at that time; next in order
adverbEnglish Dictionary