indicate

verb

in·​di·​cate ˈin-də-ˌkāt 

indicated; indicating

transitive verb

1

a

: to point out or point to

b

: to be a sign, symptom, or index of

the high fever indicates a serious condition

c

: to demonstrate or suggest the necessity or advisability of

indicated the need for a new school

the indicated treatment

2

: to state or express briefly

indicated a desire to cooperate

Synonyms

• bespeak
• betoken
• denote
• mean
• point (to)
• signify
• tell (of)

Examples of indicate in a Sentence

Our records indicate a depth of 3,000 feet here.

The map indicates where the treasure is buried.

There is nothing to indicate that the two events are connected.

The size of his offer indicates that he is eager to buy the house.

The general used a long ruler to indicate on the map exactly where the troops would land.

We asked how to get to the rear entrance, and he indicated a path leading around the right side of the building.

Recent Examples on the Web

The updating radar map above shows areas of precipitation in green, with greater intensities indicated by yellow and orange. —Bay Area News Group, The Mercury News, 11 Nov. 2024

Android phones, meanwhile, can now use use artificial intelligence to detect motion indicating someone snatched it out of your hand and is racing away on foot or a bike, and then lock the screen immediately. —Kelvin Chan, The Denver Post, 9 Nov. 2024

Data delayed 15 minutes unless otherwise indicated (view delay times for all exchanges). —Quartz, 9 Nov. 2024

Pacheco had a sizable lead in both Los Angeles and Orange counties, a tally of mail-in ballots and results from in-person voting announced by the secretary of state shortly after 5 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 7, indicated. —Hanna Kang, Orange County Register, 7 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin indicatus, past participle of indicare, from in- + dicare to proclaim, dedicate — more at diction

First Known Use

1541, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

indicate

verb

in·​di·​cate ˈin-də-ˌkāt 

indicated; indicating

1

a

: to point out or point to

b

: to be a sign of

flowers indicating the arrival of spring

2

: to state or express briefly : suggest

Medical Definition

indicate

transitive verb

in·​di·​cate ˈin-də-ˌkāt 

indicated; indicating

1

: to be a fairly certain symptom of : show the presence or existence of

the high fever indicates a serious condition

2

: to call for especially as treatment for a particular condition

radical surgery is often indicated in advanced cancer