Indicated

Indicated is the past tense and past participle of indicate, a verb meaning to point out, show, or suggest something. It can describe something that has been stated or demonstrated as a fact, or used to point to a conclusion drawn from data or evidence. In everyday language, sentences such as “The results indicated a rise in temperature” illustrate its use to report evidence that points to a conclusion.

As an adjective, indicated can mean designated or specified in a given context. For example, a form may include “indicated points” or a note may read “as indicated.” In technical writing, phrases like “as indicated in Figure 2” signal that information is located elsewhere in the document.

Etymology and general usage: indicated derives from the Latin indicare, meaning to point out or designate, from in- “toward” and dicare “to declare.” The term has broad application across disciplines, from journalism and research reporting to everyday speech, and it often contrasts with terms like imply or suggest, which carry nuance about indirectness.

Specialized senses: In medicine, “indicated” is used to describe a therapy or procedure that is appropriate or recommended for a patient, as in “The procedure is indicated for patients with X.” This is distinct from contraindicated, which means not advised due to potential harm. In statistics and science, results may be described as indicating a trend or relationship, conveying that evidence supports a conclusion while not guaranteeing it.

See also: indicate, indication, indicator, contraindication.