How to Use (only) time will tell in a Sentence

(only) time will tell

idiom
Definition of (only) time will tellnext
  • Only time will tell how Biden's last few months will go.
    — Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 25 July 2024
  • It is supposed to be hardy from zone 6-9, so time will tell.
    — Janet Carson, Arkansas Online, 17 Sep. 2023
  • But only time will tell whether this is a good or bad thing.
    — Big Think, 24 June 2024
  • And, so, time will tell in the coming weeks and months how that’s going to unfold.
    — Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2023
  • Odds are his heater and slider will still lead the pack by a large margin, but time will tell.
    — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 17 Feb. 2024
  • Only time will tell if lengths continue to grow, or if the bob is here to stay.
    — Margaux Anbouba, Vogue, 16 Jan. 2024
  • Only time will tell us who is able to separate from the rest.
    — oregonlive, 19 Sep. 2023
  • How many yawns are spread in the course of that research, well, that's something only time will tell.
    — Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 9 Oct. 2023
  • Like the risk-taking mascaras of old, only time will tell.
    — Sophia Panych, Allure, 1 July 2024
  • Only time will tell how putting more money in the hands of women will impact the world.
    — Holly Corbett, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024
  • As of now, there’s no word yet on when that could happen, but only time will tell if that plan comes to fruition.
    — Chyna Blackmon, Charlotte Observer, 16 May 2024
  • And only time will tell the long-term effect Ms. Godrèche’s comments at the César Awards had.
    — Colette Davidson, The Christian Science Monitor, 26 Feb. 2024
  • Only time will tell how many of these will make it to Baltimore.
    — Amanda Yeager, Baltimore Sun, 3 Jan. 2024
  • But time will tell if the businesses can truly bounce back.
    — Jordan Miller, The Salt Lake Tribune, 13 Sep. 2023
  • Only time will tell if the studio's new approach has legs.
    — Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week Us, theweek, 11 June 2024
  • Only time will tell, but so far, the serial killer movie has hit the ground running.
    — Shania Russell, EW.com, 14 July 2024
  • Only time will tell how Swift will mark the big 100th occasion.
    — Athena Sobhan, Peoplemag, 10 June 2024
  • Only time will tell how much snow the region receives this winter — and whether there’s a hole in the middle of it.
    — Dan Stillman, Washington Post, 27 Dec. 2023
  • Only time will tell! Love knowing what your favorite stars are up to?
    — Kelly Allen, House Beautiful, 31 Aug. 2023
  • Only time will tell what effect -- if any -- the banners will have in both Mexico and the U.S.
    — Anne Laurent, ABC News, 4 Oct. 2023
  • Only time will tell, per Goldberg, who has been with Skydance since its launch in 2010.
    — Jennifer Maas, Variety, 21 May 2024
  • Only time will tell if these changes have BYU ready for its new conference.
    — Kevin Reynolds, The Salt Lake Tribune, 1 Aug. 2023
  • With no further news than that, time will tell what the next Billie Eilish season will bring.
    — Pitchfork, 8 Jan. 2024
  • There are a lot of questions surrounding all of this, and the honest answer is that only time will tell.
    — Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 27 June 2023
  • So time will tell how profitable the effort is and what other companies step up to take on the challenge.
    — Tree Meinch, Discover Magazine, 2 Aug. 2023
  • Only time will tell how that progress plays out in a brand-new conference, against new teams with new styles and new coaches.
    — Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2024
  • Signed with a modeling agency in New York, time will tell if this leggy beauty can strut her way to the top!
    — Vulture, 6 Dec. 2023
  • Only time will tell if the Swifties can create enough joyful chaos to give her a tenth number one single.
    — Vulture, 18 Oct. 2023
  • There certainly are some more economic concerns in the mix so time will tell if this pans out.
    — Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 May 2024
  • Only time will tell what purpose this man came into your life to fulfill.
    — Elaine Welteroth, Washington Post, 4 July 2023

Some of 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.

Last Updated: