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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reindicateverb (used with object)
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interindicateverb (used with object)
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well-indicatedadjective
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unindicatedadjective
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indicatoryadjective
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indicatableadjective
Conjugated Forms
Present
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has indicatedperfect 3rd person singular
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have indicatedperfect
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indicatingparticiple
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indicatessingular 3rd person
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is indicatingprogressive 3rd person singular
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have been indicatingperfect progressive
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has been indicatingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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are indicatingprogressive
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am indicatingprogressive 1st person singular
Past
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had indicatedperfect
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was indicatingprogressive singular
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were indicatingprogressive plural
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indicatedsimple
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indicatedparticiple
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had been indicatingperfect progressive
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.
The latest opinion polls indicate this could be a very close vote.
From BBC • Jun. 12, 2026
SNP officials say donations have actually grown since the extent of Murrell’s wrongdoing were made clear in court, though opinion polls indicate that support for independence has softened.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 12, 2026
“Voter registration records do not indicate whether an individual is currently residing at or receiving services from a facility,” he said in an email.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 12, 2026
Reports indicate retail investors would receive around 30% of the offering, with only about a 3% initial free-float.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 11, 2026
"We've had trouble with all of them—" She rolled her eyes to indicate the kind of trouble she meant.
From "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents" by Julia Alvarez
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.
