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)
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
Olivier Wenden, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2025
Players around the league have been receiving weekly fines for unsportsmanlike conduct, player-safety violations, and obscene gestures.
—Cole Sullivan, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
MrBeast, the internet personality most famous for his videos documenting random acts of extreme charity, is in shorts, animatedly talking and gesturing with his hands.
—Chris Quintana, USA Today, 12 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gesture
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show current usage.
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Noun
These are not philanthropic gestures.
—Olivier Wenden, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2025
Players around the league have been receiving weekly fines for unsportsmanlike conduct, player-safety violations, and obscene gestures.
—Cole Sullivan, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
Verb
At a metal detector, a guard gestured to his many necklaces and pendants.
—Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
MrBeast, the internet personality most famous for his videos documenting random acts of extreme charity, is in shorts, animatedly talking and gesturing with his hands.
—Chris Quintana, USA Today, 12 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gesture
Cite this Entry
“Gesture.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gesture. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
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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