1
as in sign
a movement of the body or limbs that expresses or emphasizes an idea or feeling
a teenager who often shrugs her shoulders in a gesture of indifference
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in courtesy
an act or utterance that is a customary show of good manners
sent a handwritten thank-you note as a gesture of his gratitude
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of gesture
David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 12 June 2026
Throughout the series, Lennertz and Bowen were concerned with finding a musical language for the characters, and often tried to find corollaries in their instrumentation for the actors’ gestures and expressions.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 12 June 2026
Jourdan Rodrigue, New York Times, 28 May 2026
Many of today’s most prominent artists are focused on rendering vast, abstract, and often invisible systems perceptible—often by scaling them down to something more sensible while still gesturing toward their magnitude.
—Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 24 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for gesture
Noun
The architectural gestures are classic and direct — symmetry, height, proportion — while the materials and finish work do the heavy lifting.
—David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 12 June 2026
Throughout the series, Lennertz and Bowen were concerned with finding a musical language for the characters, and often tried to find corollaries in their instrumentation for the actors’ gestures and expressions.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 12 June 2026
Verb
Halverson gestured to a telephone behind him on his office desk.
—Jourdan Rodrigue, New York Times, 28 May 2026
Many of today’s most prominent artists are focused on rendering vast, abstract, and often invisible systems perceptible—often by scaling them down to something more sensible while still gesturing toward their magnitude.
—Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 24 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for gesture
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gesture
Noun
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Jacobs continued trailing the elk—looking for signs of browse and prints and always listening for the faintest sound—for the next four days and forty miles.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2026
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Others threw glass objects at people and ripped bus signs and trees out of the ground.—
Mark Morales,
CNN Money,
10 June 2026
Noun
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Born in New York to Nigerian parents, Folarin Balogun speaks with a British accent, courtesy of a childhood largely forged in England.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
13 June 2026
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There’s just this courtesy, and people are just very aware.—
Brayden Garcia,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 June 2026
Verb
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The regular working-class crew heading home for the day filed onto her bus when a supervisor popped by the front door and motioned to two teen girls.—
Caitlin McGlade,
Charlotte Observer,
2 June 2026
-
Gary Belaria said, motioning toward the parking lot.—
Camryn Dadey,
Sacbee.com,
2 June 2026
Noun
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Silence from the crowd and cheers from his teammates were Staal’s signal that the puck crossed the line.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
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Misplacing everyday items or buying duplicates signals a need to declutter and organize.—
Sarah Lyon,
The Spruce,
9 June 2026
Noun
-
For the most part, CTA personnel act with grace and politeness, although the sour drivers can influence the riders’ experiences as well.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
8 June 2026
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The goldendoodle’s shoulder tap felt almost human in its politeness, and the woman’s response — smiling, breaking off a piece and blowing on it — felt effortlessly warm.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Backstage, a handful of high-spirited elementary-age girls — known as Vista Horizon, a K-pop quintet from K-town — waved to them in awe and offered their congratulations.—
Andrea Flores,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2026
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On the second day of the competition, hundreds of high school students milled about in team gear as parents and mentors mingled in the stands, waving pompoms or holding banners to celebrate when student robot operators took to the field.—
P.R. Lockhart,
Hartford Courant,
8 June 2026
Noun
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Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 forced Berlin to begin rethinking that posture.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
14 June 2026
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Retired 14-year veteran offensive tackle Tyron Smith has been visiting the Cowboys’ facility this offseason to help develop young linemen, with Tyler Guyton calling Smith’s mentorship on posture and technique incredibly valuable.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 June 2026
Noun
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That reflection led her into a deep dive into rituals, baths, sensory experiences, and small wellness practices that became acts of self-care during a difficult period.—
Tiana Randall,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
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If worries spiral, write them down in clear language, then choose a practical fix and a simple ritual to restore steady rhythm.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gesture.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gesture. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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