Than is a comparisona statement showing how two people or things are similar or different word used to introduceto begin mentioning or presenting something for the first time the second part of a comparison, especiallymore than usual; in a way that singles something out after words like “more,” “better,” or “rather.”
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-21. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ðæn/
Easy pronunciation: THAN (approximate spelling).
Stress: Unstressed single-syllable word; said like the comparative linker in “more than.”
Used for comparison; conjunction.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-21. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Than Meaning
used to show a comparison between two things
Part of speech: conjunction
Definition: A word used to compare two things or people, often after comparative forms such as “more,” “better,” or “less.”
Example: She is taller than her brother.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-21. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Do not confuse than with then. Than is for comparison; then is for time or sequence.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-21. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does than mean?
Than is a comparison word used to show how two things differ, as in “smarter than” or “more than.”
Is than a conjunction or a preposition?
It is usually treated as a conjunction in modern grammar, though some older grammar explanations also analyze it differently in certain uses.
What is a simple example of than?
“She is taller than her brother.”
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-21. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
