gesture

1 of 2

noun

ges·​ture ˈjes-chər 

ˈjesh-

1

: a movement usually of the body or limbs that expresses or emphasizes an idea, sentiment, or attitude

raised his hand overhead in a gesture of triumph

2

: the use of motions of the limbs or body as a means of expression

3

: something said or done by way of formality or courtesy, as a symbol or token, or for its effect on the attitudes of others

… a political gesture to draw popular support …

—V. L. Parrington

4

archaic : carriage, bearing entry 1

gesture

2 of 2

verb

gestured; gesturing

intransitive verb

: to make a gesture (see gesture entry 1 sense 1)

transitive verb

: to express or direct by a gesture (see gesture entry 1 sense 1)

Synonyms of gesture

Noun

• sign
• signal
• posture
• wave
• gesticulation

Verb

• motion
• wave

Examples of gesture in a Sentence

Noun

Specific gestures can indicate particular moods.

His arm was raised in a gesture of defiance.

Verb

She gestured towards the fireplace.

He gestured at his audience.

The room was filled with angry people shouting and gesturing.

He gestured to his partner to leave.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Landry, like Mulkey and Jenkins, gives an all-time great performance, eschewing cliché with every line reading and gesture. — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 17 Sep. 2026

As political fix-it man, Fox burns some comic octane, his sense of timing and talent for the right gesture put to good use here. — Miles Beller, HollywoodReporter, 17 Sep. 2026

Verb

Just a twenty‑page pamphlet by Guy Wyser‑Pratte, one of the earliest practitioners, which mostly gestured at concepts rather than showing how to apply them. — Alec Litowitz, Fortune, 15 Sep. 2026

Those who reject or question her motives are pushed far into the movie’s gradual, calculated unspooling, gesturing at thorny complexities which are never allowed to arise. — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 13 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin gestura mode of action, from Latin gestus, past participle of gerere

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Verb

1542, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Phrases Containing gesture

• gesture language
• symbolic gesture

Rhymes for gesture

• bestir
• vesture

Kids Definition

gesture

1 of 2 noun

ges·​ture ˈjes-chər 

ˈjesh-

1

: a movement of the body or limbs that expresses or emphasizes an idea or a feeling

2

: something said or done by way of courtesy or for its effect on other people

a political gesture

gesture

2 of 2 verb

gestured; gesturing

: to make or direct with a gesture