time will tell

phrase

Events and outcomes cannot be known beforehand.

“This may not be a good idea, but time will tell.”

Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

phrase

alternative only time will tell · alternative time alone will tell

  1. idiomaticEvents and outcomes cannot be known beforehand.

    This may not be a good idea, but time will tell.

    1 more example

    That was harsh on the former Manchester United keeper after a performance which kept his team in the tie at times. But Grant, so often starved of luck himself, will feel both he and his side were worthy of the good fortune. Only time will tell whether it will be enough.

    2011 January 11, Jonathan Stevenson, “West Ham 2 - 1 Birmingham”, in BBC

Translations

Catalan el temps ho dirà
  • el temps ho diràresults of an action cannot be known beforehand
Chinese Mandarin 時間會證明一切 /时间会证明一切
  • 時間會證明一切 /时间会证明一切 (shíjiān huì zhèngmíng yīqiè)results of an action cannot be known beforehand
Dutch de tijd zal het leren, de tijd zal 't leren
  • de tijd zal het lerenresults of an action cannot be known beforehand
  • de tijd zal 't lerenresults of an action cannot be known beforehand
Finnish aika näyttää, sen näkee sitten
  • aika näyttääresults of an action cannot be known beforehand
  • sen näkee sittenresults of an action cannot be known beforehand
French l'avenir le dira, qui vivra, verra
  • l'avenir le diraresults of an action cannot be known beforehand
  • qui vivra, verraresults of an action cannot be known beforehand
  • l'avenir nous le diraresults of an action cannot be known beforehand
German das wird sich weisen, das wird sich zeigen
  • das wird sich weisenresults of an action cannot be known beforehand
  • das wird sich zeigenresults of an action cannot be known beforehand
  • die Zeit wird es zeigenresults of an action cannot be known beforehand
  • die Zukunft wird es zeigenresults of an action cannot be known beforehand
  • das steht in den Sternenresults of an action cannot be known beforehand
Greek ο χρόνος θα δείξει
  • ο χρόνος θα δείξει (o chrónos tha deíxei)results of an action cannot be known beforehand
Hebrew ימים יגידו
  • ימים יגידו (yamím yagídu)results of an action cannot be known beforehand
Hungarian majd kiderül, majd meglátjuk
  • majd kiderülresults of an action cannot be known beforehand
  • majd meglátjukresults of an action cannot be known beforehand
  • majd elválikresults of an action cannot be known beforehand
Irish is maith an scéalaí an aimsir
  • is maith an scéalaí an aimsirresults of an action cannot be known beforehand
Italian chi vivrà vedrà, il tempo lo dirà
  • chi vivrà vedràresults of an action cannot be known beforehand
  • il tempo lo diràresults of an action cannot be known beforehand
  • se son rose fiorirannoresults of an action cannot be known beforehand
Japanese 時間がたてば分かる
  • 時間がたてば分かる (jikan-ga tateba wakaru)results of an action cannot be known beforehand
Korean 시간이 말해
  • 시간이 말해 (sigani malhae)results of an action cannot be known beforehand
Lithuanian laikas parodys
  • laikas parodysresults of an action cannot be known beforehand
Polish czas pokaże
  • czas pokażeresults of an action cannot be known beforehand
Portuguese o tempo dirá
  • o tempo diráresults of an action cannot be known beforehand
Romanian timpul va decide
  • timpul va decideresults of an action cannot be known beforehand
Russian вре́мя покажет
  • вре́мя покажет (vrémja pokažet)results of an action cannot be known beforehand
Scottish Gaelic 's e tìde a dh'innseas, innsidh na geòidh as t-fhoghar e
  • 's e tìde a dh'innseasresults of an action cannot be known beforehand
  • innsidh na geòidh as t-fhoghar eresults of an action cannot be known beforehand
Slovak čas ukáže
  • čas ukážeresults of an action cannot be known beforehand
Spanish el tiempo dirá
  • el tiempo diráresults of an action cannot be known beforehand
Swedish tiden får utvisa, den som lever får se
  • tiden får utvisaresults of an action cannot be known beforehand
  • den som lever får seresults of an action cannot be known beforehand
Cite this entry
APA

time will tell. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/time%20will%20tell

MLA

“time will tell.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/time%20will%20tell. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “time will tell,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/time%20will%20tell.

Source: time will tell on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.