indicate
Americanverb (used with object)
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to be a sign of; betoken; evidence; show.
His hesitation really indicates his doubt about the venture.
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to point out or point to; direct attention to.
to indicate a place on a map.
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to show, as by measuring or recording; make known.
The thermometer indicates air temperature.
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to state or express, especially briefly or in a general way; signal.
He indicated his disapproval but did not go into detail.
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Medicine/Medical.
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(of symptoms) to point out (a particular remedy, treatment, etc.) as suitable or necessary.
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to show the presence of (a condition, infection, etc.).
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verb
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(may take a clause as object) to be or give a sign or symptom of; imply
cold hands indicate a warm heart
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to point out or show
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(may take a clause as object) to state briefly; suggest
he indicated what his feelings were
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(of instruments) to show a reading of
the speedometer indicated 50 miles per hour
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(usually passive) to recommend or require
surgery seems to be indicated for this patient
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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interindicateverb (used with object)
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reindicateverb (used with object)
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well-indicatedadjective
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indicatableadjective
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indicatoryadjective
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unindicatedadjective
Conjugated Forms
Present
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has indicatedperfect 3rd person singular
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have indicatedperfect
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are indicatingprogressive
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am indicatingprogressive 1st person singular
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has been indicatingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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have been indicatingperfect progressive
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is indicatingprogressive 3rd person singular
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indicatingparticiple
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indicatessingular 3rd person
Past
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had indicatedperfect
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were indicatingprogressive plural
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had been indicatingperfect progressive
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was indicatingprogressive singular
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indicatedsimple
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indicatedparticiple
Future
Etymology
Origin of indicate
First recorded in 1645–55; from Latin indicātus, past participle of indicāre “to point, make known,” equivalent to indic- (stem of index ) “pointer, marker, informer” + -ātus past participle suffix; see index, -ate 1
Explanation
To indicate means to point something out or to present evidence. If you feel sick during a car trip, you can indicate this to the driver by groaning loudly or announcing "I'm going to be sick!" Scientists rely on data from experiments to indicate whether their theories are correct. Indicate can also describe a symptom or signal of something else. For example, a stock market recovery could indicate growing public confidence — or foolishness, depending on which expert you ask. The verb indicate comes from the noun indication, which in turn comes from the Latin word indicare, meaning "something that points out or shows."
Vocabulary lists containing indicate
The Language of Standardized Tests, List 1
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Tier 2 Words for the SBAC ELA Items
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Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He attacked the qualifications of her replacement and told him he wasn’t welcome in a way that could only indicate insubordination.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026
It may also indicate that Broadcom is taking a more active role in financing the AI ecosystem.
From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026
It did not indicate who it thought had carried out the attack and said the boats did not belong to Azerbaijan.
From BBC • Jun. 5, 2026
Observations indicate that many of these systems form very early, before the stars themselves have fully developed.
From Science Daily • Jun. 5, 2026
For the moment it was not possible and she shook her head to indicate that he should wait.
From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
