(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

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Only time will tell whether the end of the story sounds more like Bettis’ improbable 2005 run or Tomlin’s all-too-familiar letdowns. Mike Defabo, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025 The original has a Certified Fresh rating of 91% on Rotten Tomatoes from 43 reviews, but there's still an embargo on reviews for the latest installment, so only time will tell. Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 7 Jan. 2025 As professional golf continues to alter the game in an effort to appease players, partners and patrons, time will tell if these changes actually grow the game, which has witnessed a significant swell in amateur participation since the Covid-19 pandemic. Michael Loré, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025 Only time will tell, as the preview keeps that secret. Cameron K McEwan, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for (only) time will tell 

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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 Jan. 2025.

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