truth will out

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "truth will out" is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used as a proverb, signifying that the truth will eventually be revealed. For example, "She could keep her secret hidden for a while, but she knew that eventually truth will out."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Reference

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The truth will out!

Independent

One day, though, the truth will out.

The Economist

"At the length, truth will out".

The New York Times

But the truth will out.

The New York Times

But, as they say, the truth will out.

The New York Times

Hopefully the truth will out and justice will be done.

The New York Times

As he departed, Mr Myler said: "The truth will out".

The Guardian

"Actions have consequences, honesty is the best policy, the truth will out… Shakespearean sentences really".

Independent

He said he believes that "in the upshot, the truth will out".

The Guardian

You might be able to fake it for a little while, but the truth will out.

The New York Times - Arts

But two key witnesses have died mysteriously, and few people expect that truth will out.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Employ the phrase as a standalone sentence for maximum rhetorical impact in concluding a paragraph or an argument

Common error

Avoid adding "be" or "become" to the phrase (e.g. "the truth will be out"). While "be out" is grammatically possible in other contexts, it changes the meaning from the inevitable discovery to a state of being known. Stick to the classic "truth will out" to maintain its status as a recognized proverb

Linguistic Context

The phrase "truth will out" functions as a proverbial idiom. Grammatically, it utilizes an archaic structure where "out" acts as a verb. According to Ludwig AI, this usage is perfectly acceptable in modern English despite its non-traditional syntax. It often appears as a standalone clause or a parenthetical observation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

15%

Reference

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Science

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "truth will out" is a testament to the persistence of archaic English structures in modern usage. Classified by Ludwig as a highly common and correct proverb, it carries a sense of moral inevitability. Whether appearing in the high-stakes investigative journalism of The New York Times or the narrative summaries of Wikipedia, the expression remains a potent tool for writers. Ludwig AI highlights its effectiveness in contexts involving scandals, scientific discoveries and historical reconsiderations. Its unique grammar, where the word "out" serves as the operative verb, provides a punchy and memorable cadence that modern equivalents like "<a href="/s/truth+will+be+revealed" target="_blank" rel="alternative">truth will be revealed" often lack.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

truth will come to light

Uses a more modern metaphorical structure involving light rather than the archaic verb use of out

the truth will eventually be revealed

A literal and formal expansion of the proverb

facts will emerge

More clinical and neutral, often used in investigative or scientific contexts

murder will out

The original Shakespearean variant of the proverb, though more specific to crime

secrets will surface

Focuses specifically on hidden information rising to public awareness

everything comes out in the wash

A more colloquial and idiomatic way to say that problems or truths resolve and reveal themselves over time

the truth will be told

Focuses on the act of disclosure rather than the inevitability of the event

the truth always finds a way

Personifies the truth to emphasize its persistence

nothing stays hidden forever

A pessimistic but equivalent framing of the same concept

reality will out

A less common modern variation replacing truth with reality

FAQs

How to use "truth will out" in a sentence?

You can use it to suggest that secrets cannot remain hidden, such as: "Despite their attempts to hide the evidence, they knew that <a href="/s/truth+will+out" target="_blank" rel="alternative">truth will out in the end".

What does the phrase "truth will out" mean?

It is an English proverb meaning that the truth will eventually and inevitably be discovered, regardless of efforts to conceal it.

Is "truth will out" grammatically correct?

Yes, it is correct. In this archaic construction, the word "out" functions as an intransitive verb meaning "to come out" or "to be revealed".

What is a more modern way to say "truth will out"?

You can use more contemporary expressions like "<a href="/s/the+truth+will+come+to+light" target="_blank" rel="alternative">the truth will come to light" or "<a href="/s/the+truth+will+be+revealed" target="_blank" rel="alternative">the truth will be revealed".