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

Prior to the decision, Horner recently indicated to F1 reporters that the two candidates to replace Pérez would be Lawson or Yuki Tsunoda, his teammate at RB, which is known for auditioning drivers for the senior team. —Sahil Kapur, NBC News, 19 Dec. 2024

President-elect Donald Trump’s selection of antitrust regulators indicates that the scrutiny of Big Tech during the Biden administration will likely continue during Trump’s term. —Owen Tedford, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024

Investigators said evidence at the scene indicated the property was being used to manufacture and harvest illicit marijuana. —Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 19 Dec. 2024

The Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbled by 1,100 points to its 10th straight loss. Typically, a value greater than 20 in the VIX indicates a higher level of fear in the market. —Sarah Min, CNBC, 19 Dec. 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