(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
Whether that lethal combination continues moving forward, time will tell.
—
Chris Waugh, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2025
Only time will tell, but this performance was certainly a step in that direction.
—Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Aug. 2025
No longer in his prime, time will tell if Bieber has magic on the mound.
—Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2025
Only time will tell who’s here for the long haul, which may become evident as September begins.
—Liz Simmons, StyleCaster, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for (only) time will tell
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Chris Waugh, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2025
Only time will tell, but this performance was certainly a step in that direction.
—Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Aug. 2025
No longer in his prime, time will tell if Bieber has magic on the mound.
—Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2025
Only time will tell who’s here for the long haul, which may become evident as September begins.
—Liz Simmons, StyleCaster, 28 July 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 8 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share