(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
Guess only time will tell what this winter will be like!
—
Sarah Yang, Sunset Magazine, 17 Oct. 2024
For only time will tell when the next storm is headed our way.
—David McGrath, Chicago Tribune, 1 Oct. 2024
The bottom line is that overall only time will tell how this AI race plays out.
—Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 23 Sep. 2024
But only time will tell if Iris Law, who has served as the face of Versace, plans to hit the runway in Milan.
—Vogue, 19 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for (only) time will tell 
Sarah Yang, Sunset Magazine, 17 Oct. 2024
For only time will tell when the next storm is headed our way.
—David McGrath, Chicago Tribune, 1 Oct. 2024
The bottom line is that overall only time will tell how this AI race plays out.
—Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 23 Sep. 2024
But only time will tell if Iris Law, who has served as the face of Versace, plans to hit the runway in Milan.
—Vogue, 19 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for (only) time will tell
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word '(only) time will tell.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near (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 5 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share