indicate

indicate — verb

1. to make a fact, situation, or future event known by providing evidence, by point

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveB1
Definition

to make a fact, situation, or future event known by providing evidence, by pointing it out, or by serving as a sign of it

Example

The latest survey indicates that most people support the new policy.

indicate + that-clause for showing evidence

Eli pointed to the chart and indicated the part with the highest sales.

indicate + noun phrase for pointing out

Common collocations
  • clearly indicate
  • strongly indicate
  • indicate the need for
  • indicate the presence of
  • indicate a problem
  • studies indicate
  • evidence indicates
  • results indicate
Synonyms
  • show

    more general; 'show' can be physical or abstract; 'indicate' often implies indirect evidence

  • suggest

    weaker than 'indicate'; 'suggest' leaves more room for doubt

  • demonstrate

    stronger than 'indicate'; 'demonstrate' implies clear proof rather than just a sign

  • point to

    more figurative; common in discussions of evidence (e.g. 'the data points to...')

Grammar Patterns

indicate + that-clause

indicate + noun phrase

indicate + wh-clause

indicate + where/what/when

Usage Note

Also used with a wh-clause: 'The diagram indicates how the parts fit together.' The sense covers both physical pointing and abstract showing through data, signs, or words.

Common Mistakes

The study indicates for rising temperatures.
The study indicates rising temperatures.
'indicate' takes a direct object, not 'for'.
She indicated me the way.
She indicated the way to me.
The indirect object needs a preposition (to) when the direct object comes first.

2. to make other drivers aware of your plan to turn by using your vehicle's lights

2.verbtransitive / intransitiveB1
Definition

to make other drivers aware of your plan to turn by using your vehicle's lights or a hand signal

Example

Tunde indicated left before turning into the narrow lane.

indicate + left/right (intransitive)

Drivers in the UK must indicate right when leaving a roundabout.

indicate + direction (intransitive)

Common collocations
  • indicate left
  • indicate right
  • indicate your turn
  • indicate your intention
  • forget to indicate
  • indicate before turning
Synonyms
  • signal

    more common in American English; 'signal' can also refer to the light itself (noun)

Grammar Patterns

indicate + noun phrase (direction)

indicate + that-clause

indicate (no object)

Usage Note

Commonly used without an object in British English ('Don't forget to indicate!'). In American English, 'signal' or 'use your turn signal' is more frequent than 'indicate' for this sense.

Common Mistakes

He indicated right and then turned left.
He signalled right and then turned left.
Not a grammar mistake; both are correct, but 'signalled' is more common in American English.

3. to display a specific value, reading, or level on a gauge, meter, screen, or oth

3.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to display a specific value, reading, or level on a gauge, meter, screen, or other measuring instrument

Example

The thermometer indicated a temperature of thirty-eight degrees Celsius.

device + indicate + measurement

The dashboard display indicated that the battery level was getting low.

device + indicate + that-clause

Common collocations
  • indicate a temperature
  • indicate a level
  • indicate a reading
  • indicate a value
  • thermometer indicates
  • gauge indicates
  • meter indicates
Synonyms
  • show

    more general; 'show' works for any display; 'indicate' sounds more technical

  • read

    used for specific values: 'the thermometer reads 20°C'

  • display

    focus on screen or digital readout rather than analogue needle

Grammar Patterns

device + indicate + measurement

device + indicate + that-clause

device + indicate + when/what/how

Usage Note

Subject is always a device, instrument, gauge, meter, or display. This sense is about literal readings, not figurative 'showing'. Distinguish from sense 1 (SHOW EVIDENCE), where the subject can be a person, study, or natural phenomenon.

4. to suggest that a particular medical treatment, procedure, or course of action i

4.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to suggest that a particular medical treatment, procedure, or course of action is necessary or suitable based on the evidence

Example

The blood test results indicated that she needed further treatment.

results + indicate + that-clause (medical)

Surgery is indicated only when other treatments have failed.

passive: treatment + be indicated + condition

Common collocations
  • be indicated for
  • be clearly indicated
  • be medically indicated
  • surgery is indicated
  • treatment is indicated
  • further tests are indicated
Synonyms
  • recommend

    more general and less clinical; 'recommend' is used in everyday speech, while 'indicate' is formal/medical

  • call for

    less formal; 'the situation calls for immediate action'

Antonyms
  • contraindicate

    medical term meaning 'suggest that a treatment should not be used'

Grammar Patterns

be indicated for + condition

be indicated + noun (treatment)

indicate + that-clause

indicate + noun phrase

Usage Note

Very common in medical writing and guidelines, especially in the passive form 'X is indicated for Y'. The subject is typically a diagnosis, symptom, test result, or clinical guideline — not usually a person making a suggestion, though 'the doctor indicated' occurs in formal contexts.

Common Mistakes

The doctor indicated bed rest.' (acceptable but formal)
The doctor recommended bed rest.
'recommended' is more natural in everyday conversation; 'indicated' sounds clinical.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

These four verbs overlap with 'indicate' but differ in strength and directness. 'Show' is the most general word — you can show someone a photo or show that a theory is correct ('The evidence shows that he was right'). 'Suggest' is weaker than 'indicate'; it leaves room for doubt ('The data suggests a possible link'). 'Demonstrate' is the strongest — it implies a clear, often step-by-step proof ('The experiment demonstrates how the drug works'). 'Point to' is more metaphorical and often used with evidence or trends ('All the signs point to a recession'). Use 'indicate' when the evidence leans one way without being absolute — it sits between 'suggest' (weaker) and 'demonstrate' (stronger). For example: 'The report indicates progress, but does not demonstrate full recovery.'

show ↗suggest ↗demonstrate ↗point to

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • indicate the need for
  • indicate the presence of
  • indicate a problem

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'indicate' comes from the Latin verb 'indicare', which means 'to point out' or 'to show'. It was formed by combining the prefix 'in-' (in, into, towards) with 'dicāre' (to proclaim, to point). English borrowed it through French in the early 1600s. The medical sense of 'recommend as necessary' developed later, in the 1800s, as clinical language became more standardized.