indicate - show

indicate - show
Indicate has the general meaning `show', and you can sometimes use indicate and show in a similar way, for example when you are talking about evidence or the results of research.

Evidence indicates that the experiments were unsuccessful.

Evidence shows that chronic illness predisposes the sufferer to commit suicide.

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However, indicate and show are not always used in the same way when they have a person as their subject.
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If someone indicates an object, they show someone else where it is, usually by pointing or nodding towards it. Indicate is only used like this in stories.

`The car's just down there,' she said, indicating it with a nod of her head.

She sat down in the armchair that Mrs Jones indicated.

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When indicate has this meaning, it is sometimes used with an indirect object, although this use is not common. The indirect object always has `to' in front of it.

Without speaking, he indicated to him the inside of the hut.

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If you show an object to someone, you hold it up or give or take it to them, so that they can see it and examine it. When show has this meaning, it always takes an indirect object. When the indirect object comes after the direct object, you put `to' in front of the indirect object.

I showed William what I had written.

Fetch that drawing you did and show it to the doctor.

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Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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  • indicate — [in′di kāt΄] vt. indicated, indicating [< L indicatus, pp. of indicare, to indicate, show < in , in, to + dicare, to point out, declare: see DICTION] 1. to direct attention to; point to or point out; show 2. to be or give a sign, token, or… …   English World dictionary

  • Show Me the Way to Go Home — is a folk song and drinking tune. It was made famous with its 1925 adaptation by the pseudonymous Irving King (the British songwriting team James Campbell and Reginald Connelly). It tells the story of an intoxicated bar patron trying to go home… …   Wikipedia

  • Indicate — In di*cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Indicated}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Indicating}.] [L. indicatus, p. p. of indicare to indicate; pref. in in + dicare to proclaim; akin to dicere to say. See {Diction}, and cf. {Indict}, {Indite}.] [1913 Webster] 1. To… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • show — vt showed, shown, or, showed, show·ing: to demonstrate or establish by argument, reasoning, or evidence must show a compelling need for the court action show cause: to establish by reasoning and evidence a valid reason for something if a debtor… …   Law dictionary

  • indicate — indicate, betoken, attest, bespeak, argue, prove can all mean to give evidence of or to serve as ground for a valid or reasonable inference. One thing indicates another when the former serves as a symptom or a sign pointing to the latter as a… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • show — [shō] vt. showed, shown or showed, showing [ME schewen < OE sceawian, akin to Ger schauen, to look at < IE base * (s)keu , to notice, heed > L cavere, to beware, OE hieran, to HEAR] 1. to bring or put in sight or view; cause or allow to… …   English World dictionary

  • indicate — UK US /ˈɪndɪkeɪt/ verb [T] ► to show something, point to something, or make something clear: indicate sth to sb »Retailers should indicate to the consumer the exact weight of the produce. »The scheme will be subject to the modification indicated… …   Financial and business terms

  • Show — Show, n. [Formerly written also shew.] 1. The act of showing, or bringing to view; exposure to sight; exhibition. [1913 Webster] 2. That which os shown, or brought to view; that which is arranged to be seen; a spectacle; an exhibition; as, a… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Show bill — Show Show, n. [Formerly written also shew.] 1. The act of showing, or bringing to view; exposure to sight; exhibition. [1913 Webster] 2. That which os shown, or brought to view; that which is arranged to be seen; a spectacle; an exhibition; as, a …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Show box — Show Show, n. [Formerly written also shew.] 1. The act of showing, or bringing to view; exposure to sight; exhibition. [1913 Webster] 2. That which os shown, or brought to view; that which is arranged to be seen; a spectacle; an exhibition; as, a …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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