(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, but the Jets badly need Fields to take another step forward this season.
—
Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 July 2025
Hopefully these brands will continue to produce attractive deals for consumers amidst industry challenges, but only time will tell.
—Charles Singh, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
Only time will tell what the full ramifications are of President Donald Trump’s bunker-busting bombing decision.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 23 June 2025
Only time will tell, but the NBA rumor mill is working overtime ahead of the draft.
—Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025
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Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 July 2025
Hopefully these brands will continue to produce attractive deals for consumers amidst industry challenges, but only time will tell.
—Charles Singh, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
Only time will tell what the full ramifications are of President Donald Trump’s bunker-busting bombing decision.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 23 June 2025
Only time will tell, but the NBA rumor mill is working overtime ahead of the draft.
—Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 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 13 Jul. 2025.
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