(only) time will tell
idiom
—used to say that the results of a situation will be known only after a certain amount of time has passed
"Will he be OK?" "I don't know. Only time will tell."
Examples of (only) time will tell in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Only time will tell if Prescott can bounce back and be a top-tier QB for the Cowboys or succumb to the weight of all the pressure and expectations.
—
Kevin McCormick, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 June 2025
Only time will tell, however, if those earnings will help Thunderbolts* zap the negative figures from Disney’s ledgers.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
Only time will tell whether and when the FDA’s new guideline will meaningfully alter prescribing patterns, insurance and pharmacy restrictions, and state laws.
—Lucinda Grande, The Conversation, 27 May 2025
Still, time will tell how much on-screen action Pompeo gets going forward.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for (only) time will tell
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Kevin McCormick, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 June 2025
Only time will tell, however, if those earnings will help Thunderbolts* zap the negative figures from Disney’s ledgers.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
Only time will tell whether and when the FDA’s new guideline will meaningfully alter prescribing patterns, insurance and pharmacy restrictions, and state laws.
—Lucinda Grande, The Conversation, 27 May 2025
Still, time will tell how much on-screen action Pompeo gets going forward.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for (only) time will tell
Cite this Entry
“(only) time will tell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/%28only%29%20time%20will%20tell. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
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