gesticulate

verb ges·tic·u·late \ je-ˈsti-kyə-ˌlāt \

Updated on: 16 May 2018

Definition of gesticulate

gesticulated; gesticulating

intransitive verb

: to make gestures especially when speaking

arguing and gesticulating wildly

—

gesticulative

play \je-ˈsti-kyə-ˌlā-tiv\ adjective

—

gesticulator

play \je-ˈsti-kyə-ˌlā-tər\ noun

—

gesticulatory

play \je-ˈsti-kyə-lə-ˌtȯr-ē\ adjective

See gesticulate defined for English-language learners

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Recent Examples of gesticulate from the Web

Passionate gesticulating on a gorgeous, empty stage?

— yohana desta, HWD, "Celine Dion and Deadpool Are a Match Made in Melodramatic Heaven," 3 May 2018
Once powered up, Gita automatically follows its owner, traipsing the groceries or gardening home while the human operator strolls ahead, free to gesticulate on a phone call or inhale from a cigarette.

— ian bogost, The Atlantic, "The Cute Robot That Follows You Around the City," 28 Feb. 2018
Balotelli was booked for gesticulating angrily at the crowd in the game on Saturday.

— afp, chicagotribune.com, "Referee Rainville: 'didn't hear' racist insults directed at Balotelli," 14 Feb. 2018
In true sorceress fashion, her character continued singing and dancing, arms gesticulating in time to the music, despite the creepy technical mishap, as ride-goers shared on social media.

— raisa bruner, Time, "Ursula Lost Her Head on the Little Mermaid Ride and Frightened a Bunch of Tourists," 30 Jan. 2018
The roaring, bespectacled man-hugger extraordinaire who can gesticulate as wildly on the sidelines as a broken windmill in a storm, energizing his team and fans with every yell and pointed finger.

— aimee lewis, CNN, "Jose Mourinho vs. Jurgen Klopp: Poles apart but on the same mission," 12 Oct. 2017
The parents and siblings who celebrated Christmas with us, gone, the friend of yesteryear who sat next to the tree gesticulating wildly amid her favorite story, gone, the neighbor who came over Christmas Eve to offer a late gift, gone.

— michael carey, Anchorage Daily News, "Christmas story: James Joyce wrote a carol to remember," 23 Dec. 2017
Breaking during rehearsals for the sell-out revival of Tony Kushner’s Angels in America, she is crammed into an alcove beside the mirror, gesticulating emphatically, surrounded by bare walls.

— isobel thompson, A-LIST, "Denise Gough: "You want to have a dialogue about what the f*ck is going on in the world.”," 21 Apr. 2017
Open Outcry More broadly, the case draws attention to trading on the LME, the only place in Europe where people still shout and gesticulate at one another to set prices.

— mark burton, Bloomberg.com, "How a Copper-Price Rigging Case Landed Barclays in Court, Again," 26 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'gesticulate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of gesticulate

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1609

in the meaning defined above

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GESTICULATE Defined for English Language Learners

gesticulate

verb

Definition of gesticulate for English Language Learners

: to move your arms and hands especially when speaking in an angry or emotional way

GESTICULATE Defined for Kids

gesticulate

verb ges·tic·u·late \ je-ˈsti-kyə-ˌlāt \

Definition of gesticulate for Students

gesticulated; gesticulating

: to make gestures especially when speaking

He gesticulated wildly during their argument.

Learn More about gesticulate

See words that rhyme with gesticulate Spanish Central: Translation of gesticulate Nglish: Translation of gesticulate for Spanish speakers

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gesticulate

Definition of gesticulate

gesticulative

gesticulator

gesticulatory

Recent Examples of gesticulate from the Web

Origin and Etymology of gesticulate

GESTICULATE Defined for English Language Learners

gesticulate

Definition of gesticulate for English Language Learners

GESTICULATE Defined for Kids

gesticulate

Definition of gesticulate for Students

Learn More about gesticulate

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gesticulate

Definition of gesticulate

gesticulative

gesticulator

gesticulatory

Recent Examples of gesticulate from the Web

Origin and Etymology of gesticulate

GESTICULATE Defined for English Language Learners

gesticulate

Definition of gesticulate for English Language Learners

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Definition of gesticulate for Students

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