indicate

UK: /ˈɪndɪkeɪt/ US: /ˈɪndɪˌkeɪt/ ,(in′di kāt′)

Inflections of 'indicate' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

indicates

v 3rd person singular

indicating

v pres p

indicated

v past

indicated

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

in•di•cate /ˈɪndɪˌkeɪt/   v., -cat•ed, -cat•ing. 

1. to be a sign of;
   show: [~ + object]
   Snow indicates winter.
   [~ + (that) clause]
   The patient's pale skin indicates that he may have anemia.
2. to point out or point to: [~ + object]
   to indicate a place on a map.
   [~ + (that) clause]
   used his finger to indicate that the pain was in his chest.
3. to express: [~ + object]
   indicated his disapproval.
   [~ + (that) clause]
   I indicated that I would go on with my talk.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

in•di•cate  (in′di kāt′), v.t., -cat•ed, -cat•ing. 

1. to be a sign of; betoken;
   evidence;
   show:
   His hesitation really indicates
   his doubt about the venture.
2. to point out or point to;
   direct attention to:
   to indicate a place on a map.
3. to show, as by measuring or recording;
   make known:
   The thermometer indicates air temperature.
4. to state or express, esp. briefly or in a general way;
   signal:
   He indicated his disapproval but did not go into detail.
5. Medicine
   • (of symptoms) to point out (a particular remedy, treatment, etc.) as suitable or necessary.
   • to show the presence of (a condition, infection, etc.).

• Latin indicātus past participle of indicāre to point, make known equivalent. to indic- (stem of index) index + -ātus -ate¹
• 1645–55

in•di•cat′a•ble, adj. 
in•dic•a•to•ry  (in dik′ə tôr′ē, -tōr′ē), adj.  Synonyms

• 3. register, reveal, record.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

indicate / ˈɪndɪˌkeɪt/ verb (transitive)

1. (may take a clause as object) to be or give a sign or symptom of; imply: cold hands indicate a warm heart
2. to point out or show
3. (may take a clause as object) to state briefly; suggest
4. (of instruments) to show a reading of
5. (usually passive) to recommend or require: surgery seems to be indicated for this patient

Etymology: 17th Century: from Latin indicāre to point out, from in-² + dicāre to proclaim; compare index

ˈindiˌcatable adjective

indicatory / ɪnˈdɪkətərɪ -trɪ/ adjective