indicative

[ in-dik-uh-tiv ]

See synonyms for: indicative indicatively on Thesaurus.com

adjective

showing, signifying, or pointing out; expressive or suggestive (usually followed by of): behavior indicative of mental disorder.
Grammar. noting or pertaining to the mood of the verb used for ordinary objective statements, questions, etc., as the verb plays in John plays football.: Compare imperative (def. 3), subjunctive (def. 1).

nounGrammar.

the indicative mood.
a verb in the indicative.

Origin of indicative

From the Late Latin word indicātīvus, dating back to 1520–30. See indicate, -ive

Other words from indicative

in·dic·a·tive·ly, adverb
un·in·dic·a·tive, adjective
un·in·dic·a·tive·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use indicative in a sentence

To see this feature in “all three of the major branches” of mammals — placental mammals, marsupials and monotremes — “is really indicative that it is an ancestral trait,” Anich says, and she’d like to see further research explore that possibility.
A blue-green glow adds to platypuses’ long list of bizarre features | Christie Wilcox | November 6, 2020 | Science News
They are, however, indicative of trends in the larger advertising ecosystem.
COVID helped drive record ad revenue for big tech in Q3 | Greg Sterling | November 4, 2020 | Search Engine Land
Of course, partisan affiliation, while indicative of how a person might vote, doesn’t guarantee a person will vote for their party’s candidates.
9 questions about 2020’s record-breaking early vote, answered | Rani Molla | October 30, 2020 | Vox
That was indicative, I think, of the general investment in data and technology.
Data should enfranchise people, says the Democrats’ head of technology | Tate Ryan-Mosley | October 23, 2020 | MIT Technology Review
That impressive milestone was indicative of global decline in smartphone sales amid the pandemic.
Huawei releases less information about its business as U.S. sanctions take effect | eamonbarrett | October 23, 2020 | Fortune

He raised his forefinger indicatively, as parents do to children.
Sister Carrie | Theodore Dreiser
She glanced indicatively down the lawn, in the direction of Peter's retreating tweeds.
The Cardinal's Snuff-Box | Henry Harland

British Dictionary definitions for indicative

indicative

/ (ɪnˈdɪkətɪv) /

adjective

(usually postpositive foll by of) serving as a sign; suggestive: indicative of trouble ahead
grammar denoting a mood of verbs used chiefly to make statements: Compare subjunctive (def. 1)

noun

grammar
- the indicative mood
- a verb in the indicative mood

Abbreviation: indic

Derived forms of indicative

indicatively, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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