Pointed Point Pointing Direction Pɔɪnt Finger Asked Child

• ‘what's your name?’ he asked, pointing at the child with his pen.
• ‘that's my mother,’ she said, pointing at a photo on the wall.
• he pointed to the spot where the house used to stand.
• she pointed in my direction.

point

1. to stretch out your finger or something held in your hand towards somebody/something in order to show somebody where a person or thing is
• ‘What's your name?’ he asked, pointing at the child with his pen.
• ‘That's my mother,’ she said, pointing at a photo on the wall.
• He pointed to the spot where the house used to stand.
• She pointed in my direction.
• It's rude to point!
• She pointed her finger in my direction.
2. to aim something at somebody/something
• He pointed the gun at her head.
• A hundred camera lenses were being pointed at her.
3. to face in or be directed towards a particular direction
• The telescope was pointing in the wrong direction.
• The signpost pointed straight ahead.
• A compass needle points north.
4. to lead to or suggest a particular development or logical argument
• The evidence seems to point in that direction.
• The fans are looking to the new players to point the way to victory.
5. to show somebody which way to go
• I wonder if you could point me in the right direction for the bus station.
• A series of yellow arrows pointed the way to reception.
6. to put mortar between the bricks of a wall
• The house needs pointing before winter.
7. to accuse somebody of doing something
• The article points an accusing finger at the authorities.

Extra Examples

• ‘You must cross that field,’ she said, pointing the way.
• As you so rightly pointed out, our funds are not unlimited.
• Fragments of woven cloth at the site clearly point to the production of textiles.
• He pointed in the direction of the beach.
• His wife pointed out tartly that none of them were exactly starving.
• Lee pointed accusingly at Tyler.
• Let me to hasten to point out that this is not a marketing book.
• She pointed with her finger at the map.
• She tried in vain to point out to him the unfairness of the situation.
• She was at pains to point out that she was no newcomer to the area.
• The evidence all seems to point to one conclusion.
• The gun was pointing straight at me.
• The symptoms point directly to appendicitis.
• The toddler pointed to the toy he wanted.
• They would not hesitate to point out anything they found objectionable.
• You were right to point out that this is only one of the difficulties we face.
• as repeatedly pointed out by President Obama
• ‘What’s your name?’ he asked, pointing at the child with his pen.
• A series of yellow arrows pointed the way to the reception desk.
• Could you point me in the right direction for the bus station?

Verb Forms

• present simple I / you / we / they point
• he / she / it points
• past simple pointed
• past participle pointed
• -ing form pointing

Word Origin

• Middle English: the noun partly from Old French point, from Latin punctum ‘something that is pricked’, giving rise to the senses ‘unit, mark, point in space or time’; partly from Old French pointe, from Latin puncta ‘pricking’, giving rise to the senses ‘sharp tip, promontory’. The verb is from Old French pointer, and in some senses from the English noun.