ˈində̇ˌkāt, -dēˌ-, usu -ād.+V transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Latin indicatus, past participle of indicare, from in- in- (II) + dicare to proclaim, dedicate — more at diction
: to point out or point to or toward with more or less exactness : show or make known with a fair degree of certainty: as
a.
(1) : to show the probable presence or existence or nature or course of : give fair evidence of : be a fairly certain sign or symptom of : reveal in a fairly clear way
their laughter indicated their happiness
his reply indicated total disagreement
indicated his impatience by shrugging
an anecdote that indicates the kind of people they were
a fever that indicates severe illness
(2) : to demonstrate or suggest the probable necessity or advisability of
conflicting findings indicate further neurological research — Collier's Year Book
increased luggage space is indicated for the family car — R.F.Loewy
radical surgery is indicated in advanced cancer
(3) : to show the general outlines of in advance : sketch beforehand : presage
his enthusiasm indicates a bright future for him
b. : to act as a more or less exact index of : show or suggest the probable extent or degree of
their records must indicate ability to do successful academic work — Bulletin of Bates College
their popularity is indicated by the warm welcome they receive everywhere
c. : to state or express in a brief or cursory way : state or express without going into great detail : suggest , intimate , hint
the commission also indicated it might take action — Wall Street Journal
indicated a willingness to negotiate — World
the general outlines of it can be indicated — R.L.Duffus
d. : to show the general position or direction of
a map indicates where the ship was sunk
: direct attention to with more or less preciseness (as by pointing with the finger or making a gesture)
indicated the tray of sandwiches — Kay Boyle
: point at
the hands of the clock indicated noon
Synonyms:
indicate , betoken , attest , bespeak , argue , prove can mean, in common, to give evidence of, or serve as a ground for, a valid or reasonable inference or an action validated by the inference. indicate signifies to serve as a sign or symptom pointing to (the inference or action), stressing only a general, usually unspecified, connection between subject and object
to assume that Ginger's invitation indicated something serious — Clarissa F. Cushman
the results thus obtained are believed to be the first to indicate a possible magnetic effect directly attributable to a solar eclipse — H.D.Harradon
the results of the physical examination indicated some sort of antibiotic medication
betoken stresses the idea of visible or otherwise perceivable evidence or portent
the air with which she looked at the heathmen betokened a certain unconcern at their presence — Thomas Hardy
towering business buildings, great warehouses, and numerous factories betoken its importance — American Guide Series: North Carolina
attest usually implies the more or less indisputable nature of the evidence
Washington's strong, natural love of children, nowhere attested better than in his expense accounts — J.C.Fitzpatrick
the skill with which they executed these tasks attested to their considerable executive talents — R.A.Billington
the fighting had been hard and continuous, that was attested by all the senses — Ambrose Bierce
bespeak is interchangeable with indicate though it stresses possibly a little more the role of the subject as evidence or token
a freshness and an originality that bespeak the intellectual vigor and intuition that he possessed — D.G.Mandelbaum
a glint of pride in her eyes that bespoke her new dignity — Mary Lasswell
argue usually stresses a reasonable or logical connection between subject and object
his evasion, of course, was the height of insolence, but it argued unlimited resource and nerve — Rudyard Kipling
a becoming deference argues deficiency in self-respect — A.N.Whitehead
what a mistake to say that complexity argues culture — Norman Douglas
prove is to demonstrate or make manifest the truth of (a conclusion), suggesting the inferential validity of the relationship between subject and object
to become a writer was, however, in Thoreau's mind; his verses prove it, his journal proves it — H.S.Canby
to them, faith is a belief in something which cannot be proven and understood rationally — Erich Fromm
many studies have proved that the failure of an employee is seldom due to his lack of ability — W.J.Reilly