1To point at something or someone, indicating a direction or object with a finger or other pointer.
彼女は地図の場所を指して、ここに行こうと言った。
She pointed to a spot on the map and said, "Let's go here."
子どもが空を指して飛行機を見せた。
The child pointed at the sky to show me the airplane.
時計の針がちょうど12時を指していた。
The clock hands were pointing right at 12 o'clock.
2To name or designate a particular person for a role or position; a somewhat formal way of singling someone out from candidates.
社長は後継者として長男を指した。
The president designated his eldest son as his successor.
監督は彼をエースに指し、次の試合に出すことを決めた。
The coach named him as the ace and decided to put him in the next match.
候補者の中から適任者を指すのは難しい。
It's hard to single out the most suitable person from among the candidates.
3To identify or indicate something based on facts or information; to point out or single out.
警察は指紋によって犯人を指した。
The police identified the culprit by their fingerprints.
グラフは原因としてXを指している。
The graph points to X as the cause.
彼の説明は問題点をはっきり指していた。
His explanation clearly pointed out the problem.
4In shogi (Japanese chess), to make a move or play a match — this specialized use of 指す means to move a piece.
彼は角を指して相手の王手を防いだ。
He moved his bishop and blocked the opponent's check.
対局で次にどこを指すか考えている。
I'm thinking about where to move next in the game.
5In dance, to extend one's arm straight forward — a gesture sometimes written as 差す instead.
振り付けで観客の方へ腕を指す場面がある。
There's a part in the choreography where you extend your arm toward the audience.