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
V. L. Parrington
gestured; gesturing
: to make a gesture (see gesture entry 1 sense 1)
: to express or direct by a gesture (see gesture entry 1 sense 1)
Synonyms
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 WebLaird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 6 Apr. 2024
Courtesy of Mike Dexter Photography/Remote Africa Safaris I was lost in reverie after watching three giraffes, still as statues, nibbling acacia branches in the soft morning light—when a gesture from Phiri stopped us short.
—Alexandra Kirkman, Fortune, 6 Apr. 2024
The cast’s blend of choreographic precision and uninhibited animal energy is at the core of this authenticity; the actors’ mastery of their crudely expressive gestures conveys delicate emotions, and their grunts and hoots possess the dramatic flair and nuance of dialogue.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2024
The care package included candles, body serum sticks, and more, as Michele expressed her gratitude for the gesture from one expecting mother to another.
—Brenton Blanchet, Peoplemag, 4 Apr. 2024
Ruby recalls it as a powerful gesture, despite some members’ ire over the group’s failure to call for a cease-fire.
—Marc Ramirez, USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024
Clark had made a similar gesture to another player earlier in the tournament.
—Greg Rosenstein, NBC News, 3 Apr. 2024
The emblem is one of dozens of Nazi symbols, phrases and gestures that are banned in Germany.
—Christopher F. Schuetze, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2024
During the game, ESPN showed Sudeikis performing the gesture, yelling and waving his hand in front of his face.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 2 Apr. 2024
Jonathan M. Hansen, TIME, 7 Apr. 2024
The extremist Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the assault, but Kremlin officials continue to gesture to their more immediate enemy — a Ukrainian government that has resisted Russia’s costly and bloody full-scale invasion for more than two years.
—Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2024
Jovic was called for his second technical foul, meaning an automatic ejection, midway through the third quarter after gesturing his arm in disgust following a foul call.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2024
De León did his interview, grinning and gesturing with no worry in the world.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2024
The crowd cheered as Mahomes gestured for the following bus to stop, and later, wife Brittany Mahomes carried the goat back.
—Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 22 Feb. 2024
One juvenile gestured toward the slowly vanishing sun.
—TIME, 25 Mar. 2024
Washing her hands at the sink, Ms. Bündchen gestured to the children’s bedroom doors.
—Mattie Kahn, New York Times, 23 Mar. 2024
The film’s events appear to unfold over the course of an afternoon, but perhaps these vignettes gesture to the general, ambling drift of Iris’ routine.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 19 Feb. 2024
Noun
While some critics understood Sprouse’s futurism in the context of Y2K, his use of these prints wasn’t a mere stylistic gesture.
—Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 6 Apr. 2024
Courtesy of Mike Dexter Photography/Remote Africa Safaris I was lost in reverie after watching three giraffes, still as statues, nibbling acacia branches in the soft morning light—when a gesture from Phiri stopped us short.
—Alexandra Kirkman, Fortune, 6 Apr. 2024
The cast’s blend of choreographic precision and uninhibited animal energy is at the core of this authenticity; the actors’ mastery of their crudely expressive gestures conveys delicate emotions, and their grunts and hoots possess the dramatic flair and nuance of dialogue.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2024
The care package included candles, body serum sticks, and more, as Michele expressed her gratitude for the gesture from one expecting mother to another.
—Brenton Blanchet, Peoplemag, 4 Apr. 2024
Ruby recalls it as a powerful gesture, despite some members’ ire over the group’s failure to call for a cease-fire.
—Marc Ramirez, USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024
Clark had made a similar gesture to another player earlier in the tournament.
—Greg Rosenstein, NBC News, 3 Apr. 2024
The emblem is one of dozens of Nazi symbols, phrases and gestures that are banned in Germany.
—Christopher F. Schuetze, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2024
During the game, ESPN showed Sudeikis performing the gesture, yelling and waving his hand in front of his face.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 2 Apr. 2024
Verb
Local officials gesture enthusiastically to agricultural cooperatives boasting cutting edge technology and model villages that facilitate access to social services and promote entrepreneurship.
—Jonathan M. Hansen, TIME, 7 Apr. 2024
The extremist Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the assault, but Kremlin officials continue to gesture to their more immediate enemy — a Ukrainian government that has resisted Russia’s costly and bloody full-scale invasion for more than two years.
—Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2024
Jovic was called for his second technical foul, meaning an automatic ejection, midway through the third quarter after gesturing his arm in disgust following a foul call.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2024
De León did his interview, grinning and gesturing with no worry in the world.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2024
The crowd cheered as Mahomes gestured for the following bus to stop, and later, wife Brittany Mahomes carried the goat back.
—Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 22 Feb. 2024
One juvenile gestured toward the slowly vanishing sun.
—TIME, 25 Mar. 2024
Washing her hands at the sink, Ms. Bündchen gestured to the children’s bedroom doors.
—Mattie Kahn, New York Times, 23 Mar. 2024
The film’s events appear to unfold over the course of an afternoon, but perhaps these vignettes gesture to the general, ambling drift of Iris’ routine.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 19 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gesture.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near gesture
Cite this Entry
“Gesture.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gesture. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
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