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
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gesture
Christina MacFarlane, CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026
The ten-month time jump has helped Whitaker feel more comfortable at work, Howell says, but even he was thrown by Robby’s seeming gesture of trust — and, maybe, self-destruction.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026
Liam Inscoe-Jones, Pitchfork, 5 Mar. 2026
Two tiny humanoid robots that can play soccer stand in a glass case, one blinking and gesturing at visitors and the other partially disassembled to reveal the engineering inside.
—Miriam Fauzia, Dallas Morning News, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gesture
Noun
The act was interpreted by many as a defiant gesture against the regime, but the team has not publicly stated what its aim was with the silence during the anthem.
—Christina MacFarlane, CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026
The ten-month time jump has helped Whitaker feel more comfortable at work, Howell says, but even he was thrown by Robby’s seeming gesture of trust — and, maybe, self-destruction.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026
Verb
His lyrics detail a process of active healing, gesturing at a contentedness that beds in as your 20 begin to wane.
—Liam Inscoe-Jones, Pitchfork, 5 Mar. 2026
Two tiny humanoid robots that can play soccer stand in a glass case, one blinking and gesturing at visitors and the other partially disassembled to reveal the engineering inside.
—Miriam Fauzia, Dallas Morning News, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gesture
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gesture
Noun
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The president's endorsement didn't clear the GOP crowded field to replace Greene — some observers cast that as a sign of weakness — but Fuller easily overcame other Republican contenders.—
Rebecca Morin,
USA Today,
11 Mar. 2026
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The Iran war intensified as Washington and Tehran focused their attention on the Strait of Hormuz and showed little sign of easing their aerial campaigns.—
Prashant Rao,
semafor.com,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Privacy Policy Check out our other newsletters Following her most intense period of celebrity in 1939, courtesy of the exuberant GE PR machine, Katharine returned to her science, and in the never-a-dull-moment department, science with Irving Langmuir.—
Natalia Sánchez Loayza,
Scientific American,
13 Mar. 2026
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The suppurating contempt Sheridan feels for the Big Apple oozes its way through much of the series, its condescending pus infecting stunning vistas, swelling musical compositions and at least one award-worthy performance, courtesy of Michelle Pfeiffer.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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On the other end of the court, Bulls coach Billy Donovan motioned for a timeout the moment the whistle blew.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Feb. 2026
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That’s when Washington’s Department of Health motioned for and received an Order of Default against Montano.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
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In the 1990s, neuroscientists Giulio Tononi and Gerald Edelman used Shannon entropy as part of the foundation for their Integrated Information Theory (IIT) of consciousness, which argues that consciousness is analogous to the integration and complexity of neural signals.—
Conor Feehly,
Big Think,
10 Mar. 2026
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With all the mixed signals coming, Cramer said everyday investors have a distinct advantage over the professional traders who have to answer to concerned clients.—
Natasha Abellard,
CNBC,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Friendly or the blank politeness of impartiality?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Mar. 2026
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His father was William Shawn, editor for 35 years of The New Yorker, known for his own mix of politeness and steel.—
Christopher Bonanos,
Vulture,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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At the time, Krauss, the author of several popular books on science, donned his scuba gear and dove down to wave at Hawking through the submarine's window.—
Scott Neuman,
NPR,
9 Mar. 2026
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As the match officials made their way off the pitch, Guardiola was planting a kiss on the cheek of his goalkeeper, James Trafford, and waving, almost dewy-eyed, towards the City fans in the most vertiginous parts of St James’ Park.—
Daniel Taylor,
New York Times,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The Freedom Shield exercises aim to enhance interoperability, reinforce combined defense posture, and increase overall combat readiness, according to the US military.—
Soo-hyang Choi,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
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His deep ties to the Revolutionary Guard and security apparatus also suggest that the institutions driving Iran's current war posture will retain strong influence in the next phase of leadership.—
Claire Day,
CBS News,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Wunmi also developed a curious daily ritual of coming home every day after primary school, drinking cartons of long-life milk, and watching Annie.—
Kemi Alemoru,
Glamour,
14 Mar. 2026
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But doing so doesn't mean completely eliminating the morning ritual of sipping on a hot (or iced) beverage.—
Sarah Bence,
Verywell Health,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gesture.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gesture. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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