What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
indicating
Example
The dark clouds are indicating that it might rain soon. [indicating: verb]
Example
His raised eyebrows indicated his surprise at the news. [indicated: past tense]
signifying
Example
The red rose is often used to signify love and passion. [signify: verb]
Example
In hip-hop culture, 'throwing up' a hand sign can signify membership in a particular group. [signifying: gerund or present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Indicating is more commonly used than signifying in everyday language. Indicating is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while signifying is less common and often used in creative or artistic contexts.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between indicating and signifying?
Both indicating and signifying can be used in formal and informal contexts. However, indicating is more neutral and objective, making it more suitable for formal situations, while signifying can have a more metaphorical or symbolic connotation, making it more suitable for creative or artistic contexts.
