gesticulate

verb

ges·​tic·​u·​late je-ˈsti-kyə-ˌlāt How to pronounce gesticulate (audio)
gesticulated; gesticulating

intransitive verb

: to make gestures especially when speaking
arguing and gesticulating wildly
gesticulative adjective
gesticulator noun
gesticulatory adjective

Examples of gesticulate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The image of Walz as a giddy schoolgirl gesticulating wildly and panting with enthusiasm for Vice President Kamala Harris is one the Trump campaign has tried to push since August, when Harris confirmed Walz would be her running mate on the 2024 Democratic ticket. Samantha Riedel, Them, 2 Oct. 2024 In the left frame, Trump is mid-monologue, lips pursed and gesticulating. Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 11 Sep. 2024 The classroom resounded with snickers, whispers, giggles, snarls, and whoops from the children, and furious commands from the two nuns who gesticulated—quite ineffectually—up by the blackboard, and sometimes, in exasperation, charged down the aisle between the desks to punish a miscreant. Rosanna Warren, Harper's Magazine, 25 June 2024 Motor or beat gestures can only occur in tandem with speech—think gesticulating to emphasize a point. Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 19 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for gesticulate 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gesticulate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

circa 1609, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gesticulate was circa 1609

Dictionary Entries Near gesticulate

Cite this Entry

“Gesticulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gesticulate. Accessed 13 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

gesticulate

verb
ges·​tic·​u·​late je-ˈstik-yə-ˌlāt How to pronounce gesticulate (audio)
gesticulated; gesticulating
: to make gestures especially when speaking
gesticulation
-ˌstik-yə-ˈlā-shən
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on gesticulate

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