gesture 1 of 2

Definition of gesturenext
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

Relevance
2

gesture

2 of 2

verb

as in to motion
to direct or notify by a movement or gesture the police officer gestured me to the side of the road to tell me my headlight was out

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of gesture
Noun
But the most meaningful gestures are rarely elaborate. Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 22 May 2026 This isn’t the first time such a gesture has come from Richard Childress. Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 22 May 2026
Verb
There was at times much gesturing about his hands. Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 May 2026 The outlook appeared so bleak that Alexey Miranchuk gestured to the heavens and said, if the team could acquire help from a higher power and get a road win, maybe the ship could be steered in the right direction. Amna Subhan, AJC.com, 7 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for gesture
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gesture
Noun
  • He’s gone from being a disposable asset in Vegas, which shipped him to Toronto in a sign-and-trade for Mitch Marner on July 1, to being coveted in Colorado at the trade deadline when the Avs acquired him to be their third-line center.
    Nate Peterson, Denver Post, 19 May 2026
  • The initial investigation into the billionaire’s death by Spanish authorities was closed in January 2025, and deemed an accident with no signs of any criminal wrongdoing.
    Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 19 May 2026
Noun
  • Guests can rent courtesy bikes or use trail maps to explore local running routes.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 May 2026
  • He was then transferred to the neighboring Porter County Jail as Sheriff Jeff Balon offered to house the man, which is a courtesy extended in cases like this, Fifield said.
    Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2026
Verb
  • Another incident identified by police allegedly occurred on March 27, when Berrios-Otero allegedly motioned for a 4-year-old child to sit on his lap and directed him to get a blanket, according to the warrant affidavits.
    Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 14 May 2026
  • Referee Kelly Sutherland immediately ruled it a legal goal and motioned to say Hunt pushed the Avs captain into his own goalie.
    Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 10 May 2026
Noun
  • Instead, hormone signals and the glands that produce them are part of a communication system that organises every cell, turning collections of independently functioning cells, tissues and organs into an interconnected human body.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 May 2026
  • The technique, which works by bouncing signals onto qubits and effectively listening for their echoes, runs 13,000 times faster on Willow than an equivalent algorithm would on the best classical supercomputer.
    Zeeya Merali, Scientific American, 19 May 2026
Noun
  • 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
  • When talking to your peers, politeness is of paramount importance.
    Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 10 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Now, Hilton rarely deviates from her signature look, of which long, perfectly curled or waved blonde hair is a key element.
    Kara Nesvig, Allure, 18 May 2026
  • After landing her final move, Liu waved and bowed to each corner of the arena, leaving no section without attention.
    Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 18 May 2026
Noun
  • Florida is an ideal case study demonstrating that a conservative tax posture can promote household and business prosperity.
    Nicole Huyer, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 May 2026
  • To counter this, peregrines continually alter their wing posture throughout the stoop.
    Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 24 May 2026
Noun
  • Days begin with the drama of dawn and close with a sunset ritual as a signature of the property.
    Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 23 May 2026
  • The symbolism of herbs is rooted in many ancient traditions, from indigenous healing to Ayurvedic wellness rituals.
    Shagun Khare, Martha Stewart, 23 May 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gesture.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gesture. Accessed 26 May. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on gesture

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster