gesture

noun ges·ture \ ˈjes-chər , ˈjesh- \

|Updated on: 18 Jun 2018

Definition of gesture

1 archaic : carriage, bearing

2 : 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

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

4 : 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

See gesture defined for English-language learners

See gesture defined for kids

Examples of gesture in a Sentence

Specific gestures can indicate particular moods.
His arm was raised in a gesture of defiance.

Recent Examples of gesture from the Web

In a series of photos, Tim Roseborough looks at how subtle gestures can be violent, intended or not.

— ryan kost, SFChronicle.com, "Queer art exhibition explores shaping force of ‘A History of Violence’," 12 June 2018
Such gestures will be an important part of Mr Sánchez’s rule, because his scope for bringing about radical change is small.

— The Economist, "Spain’s new prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, assembles a reassuring team," 7 June 2018
Analysts say the gesture of sending the letter itself is part of the meticulous steps North Korea is taking to present Kim as a legitimate international statesman who is reasonable and capable of negotiating solutions and making deals.

— CBS News, "Pushing the envelope? Kim Jong Un's massive letter to Trump," 2 June 2018
Analysts say the gesture of sending the letter itself is part of the meticulous steps North Korea is taking to present Kim as a legitimate international statesman who is reasonable and capable of negotiating solutions and making deals.

— Washington Post, "Pushing the envelope: Why was Kim’s letter for Trump so big?," 2 June 2018
Analysts say the gesture of sending the letter itself is part of the meticulous steps North Korea is taking to present Kim as a legitimate international statesman who is reasonable and capable of negotiating solutions and making deals.

— kim tong-hyung, chicagotribune.com, "Why was Kim Jong Un's letter to Trump so big?," 2 June 2018
Analysts say the gesture of sending the letter itself is part of the meticulous steps North Korea is taking to present Kim as a legitimate international statesman who is reasonable and capable of negotiating solutions and making deals.

— kim tong-hyung, The Seattle Times, "Pushing the envelope: Why was Kim’s letter for Trump so big?," 2 June 2018
Technical experts have not been invited to the decommissioning of the site, raising further questions as to whether the gesture is for show.

— thomas maresca, USA TODAY, "North Korea prepares to dismantle nuclear test site," 22 May 2018
Sadly, the gestures aren’t yet as smooth or easy to use as the iPhone X’s.

— dan seifert, The Verge, "OnePlus 6 review: new phone, same compromises," 21 May 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of gesture

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

gesture Synonyms

Synonyms

amenity, attention, civility, courtesy, formality, pleasantry, politeness;

Related Words

honors;

ceremony, observance, rite, ritual;

decorum, etiquette, form, manners, mores, proprieties;

addresses, devoirs, greetings, regards, respects;

favor, grace, kindliness, kindness;

protocol, rules;

gesture

verb

Definition of gesture

gestured; gesturing

intransitive verb

: to make a gesture (see ¹gesture 2)

transitive verb

: to express or direct by a gesture (see ¹gesture 2)

See gesture defined for English-language learners

Examples of gesture in a Sentence

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 of gesture from the Web

The officer told the driver he had been stopped because a tail light was out on the vehicle, and the officer had received information that the occupants of the vehicle had been gesturing and yelling things at a school bus.

— michael harriot, The Root, "Chesterfield County, Va., Police Say 'Facts Matter' After Violent Arrest Video Goes Viral. Here's Why You Shouldn't Believe Them," 23 May 2018
That gestures like that are meaningful between friends and certainly on Capitol Hill as well.

— Fox News, "McConnell on getting Trump's nominations through, midterms," 26 Apr. 2018
Bryce Johnson, the inclusive lead for product research and accessibility at the company, gestures to a huge Lego board on the wall of his lab.

— rachel lerman, courant.com, "Microsoft's New Xbox Controller Courts Gamers With Disabilities," 30 May 2018
Elis jogged toward the corner flag gesturing for and then donning a Black Panther mask to punctuate his score and the Dynamo's first-ever win over NYC FC (7-3-3).

— glynn a. hill, Houston Chronicle, "Dynamo earn first win over New York City FC," 26 May 2018
But the soldiers closed after 45 minutes, and turned away an irritated motorist who gestured to his watch to show he should still be allowed through.

— Washington Post, "For Palestinians, Israeli permits a complex tool of control," 1 May 2018
At the back of his 2-acre property off Skyline Drive in Eagle River last week, Brian Trimble gestured to a wooden stake with a pink survey flag tied to the top.

— devin kelly, Anchorage Daily News, "On Anchorage’s windy mountainsides, turbines could reduce homeowners’ dependence on the grid," 16 May 2018
Joe Henderson said, gesturing to a massive convention center filled with guns and ammunition.

— katie zezima, Washington Post, "Inside the NRA’s annual meeting: Guns, ammunition, family and politics," 5 May 2018
Beyond the African-American art of stepping and its many diasporic iterations, the inclusion of a fictional BGLO gestured the cultural significance of these organizations in Black communities.

— treva lindsey, Teen Vogue, "Beyoncé's Coachella 2018 Performance Showed Just How Important HBCUs Are," 16 Apr. 2018

Origin and Etymology of gesture

see ¹gesture

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1542

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

See Words from the same year

gesture Synonyms

Synonyms

beckon, flag, motion, signal, wave;

Related Words

nod;

gesticulate, mime, pantomime, sign;

signalize;

acquaint, advise, inform, relate, tell;

flourish, shrug;

GESTURE Defined for English Language Learners

gesture

noun

Definition of gesture for English Language Learners

: a movement of your body (especially of your hands and arms) that shows or emphasizes an idea or a feeling
: something said or done to show a particular feeling or attitude

gesture

verb

Definition of gesture for English Language Learners

: to make a gesture : to move your hands, arms, etc., to express an idea or feeling

GESTURE Defined for Kids

gesture

noun ges·ture \ ˈjes-chər \

Definition of gesture for Students

1 : a movement of the body (as the hands and arms) that expresses an idea or a feeling

… Tutok rose and made a gesture of farewell.
—Scott O'Dell, Island of the Blue Dolphins

2 : something said or done that shows a particular feeling

He invited her in a gesture of friendship.

gesture

verb

Definition of gesture for Students

gestured; gesturing

: to make or direct with a gesture

I gestured for her to come.

Learn More about gesture

See words that rhyme with gesture Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for gesture Spanish Central: Translation of gesture Nglish: Translation of gesture for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of gesture for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about gesture

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gesture

Definition of gesture

Examples of gesture in a Sentence

Recent Examples of gesture from the Web

Origin and Etymology of gesture

gesture Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

gesture

Definition of gesture

Examples of gesture in a Sentence

Recent Examples of gesture from the Web

Origin and Etymology of gesture

gesture Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Phrases Related to GESTURE

Related Phrases

GESTURE Defined for English Language Learners

gesture

Definition of gesture for English Language Learners

gesture

Definition of gesture for English Language Learners

GESTURE Defined for Kids

gesture

Definition of gesture for Students

gesture

Definition of gesture for Students

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