How to Use but then in a Sentence

but then

idiom
  • 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 my son, who's only four, goes to bed in his own bed but then has to sleep with us.
    — Toria Sheffield, People.com, 15 Dec. 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
  • The very thought feels absurd—but then again, isn’t that the whole point of luxury?
    — Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 7 Feb. 2025
  • 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
  • Adults will roll their eyes at the fart jokes; but then, kids will cringe at the sound of Ed Sheeran and Coldplay.
    — Damon Wise, Deadline, 19 Oct. 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
  • Smith walked Monasterio with one out in the seventh but then picked him off first.
    — Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 6 Mar. 2025
  • You were born in Queens, but then moved to South Carolina at a very early age.
    — Fortune Editors, Fortune, 7 Dec. 2023
  • The concession made sense at the time, but then over the last ten years, two major factors changed the landscape.
    — Jerrold Lundquist, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
  • 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
  • He was seen walking out of the locker room, but then went on a cart, seemingly to get X-rays.
    — Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 15 Dec. 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
  • Alex played in the NHL for his first season but then required knee surgery, which kept him out the entire next season.
    — Scott Powers, The Athletic, 22 Feb. 2025
  • Some of our employees have lost homes, many are displaced, but then there are other parts of the city that are OK.
    — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 16 Jan. 2025
  • The curtains fell, but then after some time, the guitarist took to the stage, playing a guitar solo.
    — Billboard Japan, Billboard, 22 Nov. 2024
  • Democrats will have a post-convention boost, but then the race will likely tighten.
    — Candy Woodall, Baltimore Sun, 27 July 2024
  • Like there was a soft side of me, but then also this really intense side and a desire to be heard.
    — James Factora, Them, 6 Mar. 2025
  • 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
  • Case in point: The Phils had a historic start last season, but then lost 11 of 14 games after the All-Star break, including six straight.
    — Isaac Avilucea, Axios, 4 Mar. 2025

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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