indicate
- 01 B1 Intermediate
to show that something exists or is likely to be true.
to serve as a sign, symptom, or evidence of something. Often used with a 'that' clause or a direct object.
Simple“Recent studies indicate that eating more vegetables can improve your health.”
In context“The preliminary data indicate a significant correlation between sleep quality and cognitive performance in older adults.”
UsageCommonly followed by a 'that' clause in academic writing.
Synonyms - 02 B1 Intermediate
to point to something or draw attention to it.
to point out or direct attention to something specifically.
Simple“Please indicate which of these books you would like to borrow.”
In context“The map uses small red icons to indicate the locations of historical landmarks throughout the city center.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
to be a sign of a specific illness or medical condition.
to manifest as a symptom or to suggest a particular treatment is necessary.
Simple“A high fever can indicate that the body is fighting an infection.”
In context“The patient's persistent cough and fatigue may indicate an underlying respiratory condition that requires further testing.”
- 04 B1 Intermediate
to use the lights on your car to show you are turning.
to use a vehicle's directional signals to inform other drivers of an intended change in direction.
Simple“You should always indicate before you turn left at the junction.”
In context“The driver failed to indicate before changing lanes, nearly causing a collision with the motorcyclist behind him.”
Teacher's tipIn American English, 'signal' is much more common than 'indicate' for this specific action.
Synonyms
Usage indicates free · analysis indicate · clearly indicate
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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.