Quick answer: Indicate is more formal and suggests pointing to evidence or giving a sign of something: The data indicates a trend. Show is the everyday word for demonstrating or making something visible or clear: The graph shows a rise in sales. In many contexts they overlap, but indicate implies inference while show implies direct demonstration. For a fuller definition, see the Cambridge Dictionary entry for ‘indicate’.
Comparison Table
| Word | Register | Implication | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| indicate | formal / academic | indirect sign, inference | Research indicates a link. |
| show | everyday / neutral | direct demonstration | This chart shows total sales. |
Understanding Indicate
Indicate is a formal verb that means to point to evidence, give a sign, or suggest something. It is especially common in research, reports, and formal writing when data or signs point to a conclusion. It often implies that the evidence is indirect — not a direct proof but a pointer.
The survey indicates growing public concern.
Early signs indicated a serious problem.
Research indicates that exercise reduces stress.
Please indicate your preference on the form.
Indicate a Direction
Indicate is also used in driving to mean to signal before turning: “She indicated left.” This specific use has no equivalent with show.
Understanding Show
Show is one of the most common and versatile verbs in English. It means to make something visible, to demonstrate, to reveal, or to guide someone. It can be used for physical acts (show me the map) and abstract demonstrations (the results show a clear pattern). It is natural in all registers.
Can you show me how to do this?
The figures show a steady decline.
She showed great courage under pressure.
The map shows all public footpaths.
Common Mistakes
✗ Can you indicate where the station is? (very formal; sounds odd)
✓ Can you show me where the station is?
✗ The data shows that the treatment might work. (fine, but might suggests uncertainty better served by indicate)
✓ The data indicates that the treatment might work.
✗ There are many shows of pollution in the data.
✓ There are many indicators of pollution in the data. (the noun of indicate is indicator or indication)
Also compare: Explain vs Describe, Give vs Provide, Important vs Significant. Browse all confusing word pairs →
Quick Check: Indicate or Show?
Four questions — choose the correct word.
1. “Can you ___ me the way to the museum?” (everyday request)
2. “The survey results ___ growing support for the policy.” (research finding)
3. “The graph ___ a sharp rise in costs between 2020 and 2025.”
4. “She ___ left before turning into the car park.” (driving)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between indicate and show?
Indicate is more formal and suggests pointing to evidence or giving an indirect sign. Show is the everyday word for demonstrating or making something visible or clear.
Can indicate and show be used interchangeably?
In many contexts, yes. “The data shows a trend” and “the data indicates a trend” are both natural. Indicate is preferred in formal academic writing; show is better in conversation and general descriptions.
What does indicate mean in driving?
In British driving, indicate means to signal your intention to turn or change lane using the indicator lights: “Always indicate before overtaking.” This is a specific British English usage not shared by show.
What is the noun form of indicate?
The nouns are indication (a sign or suggestion: “There was no indication of trouble”) and indicator (something that points to a trend: “economic indicators”). The noun of show in this sense is less fixed; you might say “demonstration” or simply “sign.”
Is indicate stronger than show?
Not necessarily stronger. Indicate often implies indirect evidence or inference, so it can sound less certain: “results indicate” (we infer from the evidence). Show can imply direct, clear demonstration: “results show” (it is clear from the data).
Can show mean “to demonstrate evidence”?
Yes. “Studies show that smoking causes cancer” is perfectly natural in formal and informal writing. In academic writing, indicate or suggest may be preferred when the evidence is not fully conclusive.
Can show be used for physical demonstration?
Yes, and this is one of show’s most common uses: “Can you show me how to do it?” / “She showed him the way.” Indicate cannot be used this way — “She indicated him the way” is unnatural.
What is the adjective form of indicate?
Indicative: “The results are indicative of a wider problem.” This formal adjective has no direct equivalent from show.
Is “the chart shows” or “the chart indicates” better in IELTS writing?
Both are correct and both appear in high-scoring responses. “The chart shows” is natural for describing what is directly visible. “The data indicates” is better for drawing inferences or conclusions from the data.
Can indicate mean to express a feeling?
Rarely. For expressing feelings, show is more natural: “She showed great patience.” / “He showed no remorse.” Indicate in this context (“he indicated no remorse”) sounds very cold and clinical.