gesticulate

1 of 2

verb

ges·​tic·​u·​late je-ˈsti-kyə-ˌlāt 

gesticulated; gesticulating

intransitive verb

: to make gestures especially when speaking

arguing and gesticulating wildly

gesticulative

je-ˈsti-kyə-ˌlā-tiv 

adjective

gesticulator

je-ˈsti-kyə-ˌlā-tər 

noun

gesticulatory

je-ˈsti-kyə-lə-ˌtȯr-ē 

adjective

gesticulator

2 of 2

noun

ges·​tic·​u·​la·​tor -ˌlātə(r) 

plural -s

: one that gesticulates

especially : actor

Examples of gesticulate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Instead of ripping off his shirt, or wildly gesticulating, McTominay ran to the edge of the pitch with his hands facing down and his lips pursed. —Ed Caesar, New Yorker, 16 June 2026

Imagery was multiplied to tell a story—the stentorian Mussolini, with his upraised chin and bald head, delivering a speech, or Hitler, with his toothbrush mustache, gesticulating. —Literary Hub, 27 Apr. 2026

Video footage of the incident obtained by KQED appears to show the women gesticulating and shouting at the correctional staff before the officers form a line and deploy pepper spray and mace grenades at the group. —William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 24 Apr. 2026

The video, without sound, shows the three of them gesticulating at each other before the 13-year-old in red pants appears to charge David and stab him. —Julia Prodis Sulek, Mercury News, 17 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Latin gesticulatus, past participle of gesticulari, from *gesticulus, diminutive of gestus — see gesture entry 1

Noun

Latin, from gesticulatus + -or

First Known Use

Verb

circa 1609, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for gesticulate

• apiculate
• denticulate
• particulate
• reticulate
• inarticulate

Kids Definition

gesticulate

verb

ges·​tic·​u·​late je-ˈstik-yə-ˌlāt 

gesticulated; gesticulating

: to make gestures especially when speaking

gesticulation

-ˌstik-yə-ˈlā-shən

noun