ENGLISH
REFERENCE

indicate

v.
B1 Intermediate Oxford US //ˈɪndəˌkeɪt// UK //ˈɪndɪkˌeɪt// in·di·cate Academic General-service

v. to show that something exists or is true. You use this when a sign, a movement, or a piece of information points toward a specific fact.

v. to point out or show; to serve as a sign or symptom of something. In academic contexts, it suggests evidence rather than absolute proof.


SIMPLE

A high temperature can indicate an infection.

CONTEXTUAL

The latest economic data indicate that inflation is finally starting to slow down across the region.

COMPLEX

While these preliminary results indicate a positive trend, researchers must conduct further trials to determine if the treatment is effective for the wider population.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

Borrowed from Latin indicātus, perfect passive participle of indicō (“to point out, indicate”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from in- (“in, to”) + dicō (“to declare, (originally) to point”). See also diction and index.

Usage

The verb is transitive and often takes a 'that' clause or a direct object.

Pitfall

The map indicates us the wayThe map indicates the way to usIndicate does not take an indirect object (the person being shown) directly after the verb; use 'to' or simply a direct object.

© 2026 English Reference