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
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Recent Examples of gesture
Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 20 Feb. 2026
What begins as a gesture of Franco-American fraternity evolves into the intimate story of an unlikely friendship between two men united by ideals and tested by doubt.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 20 Feb. 2026
Guy Lodge, Variety, 5 Feb. 2026
Hansen gestured toward the springs.
—Josh Jackson, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gesture
Noun
The adaptation leans into long silences and small gestures rather than big dramatic reveals.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 20 Feb. 2026
What begins as a gesture of Franco-American fraternity evolves into the intimate story of an unlikely friendship between two men united by ideals and tested by doubt.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 20 Feb. 2026
Verb
Yet after gesturing toward a promising thriller setup, the film soon begins to spin its wheels — doing little to complicate or tighten the melodrama, while only superficially probing its two principal characters as their romance is inevitably reignited.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 5 Feb. 2026
Hansen gestured toward the springs.
—Josh Jackson, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gesture
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gesture
Noun
-
Stay vigilant by monitoring the sky for ominous signs and listening for the telltale sound of thunder.—
Bay Area Weather Report,
Mercury News,
18 Feb. 2026
-
It's all told from the vantage point of a woman trying to make sense of her life in the face of devastation, sometimes grasping for signs that only hindsight can uncover.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Run with the permission of the author, courtesy of Grove Press.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Feb. 2026
-
That nourishment comes courtesy of fatty acid–rich rice bran extract and allantoin, the latter of which also works to repair the skin barrier to stave off sensitivity.—
Emily Orofino,
Vogue,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Rush said, then motioned to their son.—
Stephanie Breijo,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Feb. 2026
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From her seat two rows behind the Republican leaders, Pavalock-D’Amato stood, turned around and motioned to her pro-ICE message.—
Mark Pazniokas,
Hartford Courant,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
But with all that extra information comes errors, and error-correcting a quantum qubit—weeding out the noise to find the signal—is a challenge in itself.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
17 Feb. 2026
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In Jaws, the ocean’s crash, the buoy’s bell and John Williams’ score signal danger as clearly as the shark itself all while keeping dialogue clean and intelligible amid environmental chaos.—
Destiny Jackson,
Deadline,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Multiple sources speak about his impressive handling of a tough situation, praising his politeness and professionalism.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Beyond simple politeness, being easy to talk to happens to be a powerful social and career advantage.—
John Bowe,
CNBC,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
This photograph shows European countries’ flags waving in front of the European Parliament building in Strasbourg, eastern France, on June 6, 2024.—
Chloe Taylor,Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Ajax supporters have responded by waving Israeli flags, even though many of their players are of African, Moroccan, or even Japanese descent.—
Ian Buruma,
New Yorker,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The compact humanoid absorbs external forces, adjusts its posture in real time, and regains its rhythm within seconds, demonstrating precise coordination among its sensors, actuators, and control algorithms.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Feb. 2026
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Many public schools have taken an aggressive anti-AI posture.—
Neil Chilson,
Fortune,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Evening rituals in the communal Living Room rotate nightly, and could include old-timey games from Jinguashi in northern Taiwan, or a DIY herbal tea session inspired by the Chinese medicine shops lining Taipei’s Huaxi Street.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Feb. 2026
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Spring cleaning is a ritual in many households.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gesture.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gesture. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
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