as in motioning
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
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Recent Examples of gesturing
Leaning over the side of a small speedboat, Jhon Cantillo scoops up a thick clump of bright green vegetation, holding it up before gesturing toward the horizon, where the plant spreads across the waters as far as the eye can see.
—
ABC News, 12 May 2026
There was at times much gesturing about his hands.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 May 2026
Virtually every modern presidency has understood this, leaning into discretion and gesturing toward transparency even as new security measures have been unfurled over time.
—Neil Flanagan, The Atlantic, 2 May 2026
Though Washington is revered today, his position was extremely fragile at the time, Kesten said, gesturing at an image of a painting of von Steuben and Washington.
—Amanda Rosa
updated April 28, Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 2026
The beat is knowingly Hoover-esque, gesturing toward familiar dramatic territory between lovers — before violently swerving in a more genre-forward direction.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 27 Apr. 2026
Smith positions the avenging goddess in a horror-show hall of mirrors, with a closed-circuit video feed focused on Vindicatrix’s upraised arm gesturing in oath.
—Horace D. Ballard, Artforum, 22 Apr. 2026
Suddenly Bieber was dancing around, trading fun glances with his fellow-artists, finally gesturing toward the usually obvious fact that a concert might also be an uncomplicatedly good time.
—Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2026
Last night’s caution for gesturing to referee Jarred Gillett that West Ham’s Crysencio Summerville should be booked left head coach Rob Edwards with a problem.
—Steve Madeley, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2026
ABC News, 12 May 2026
There was at times much gesturing about his hands.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 May 2026
Virtually every modern presidency has understood this, leaning into discretion and gesturing toward transparency even as new security measures have been unfurled over time.
—Neil Flanagan, The Atlantic, 2 May 2026
Though Washington is revered today, his position was extremely fragile at the time, Kesten said, gesturing at an image of a painting of von Steuben and Washington.
—Amanda Rosa
updated April 28, Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 2026
The beat is knowingly Hoover-esque, gesturing toward familiar dramatic territory between lovers — before violently swerving in a more genre-forward direction.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 27 Apr. 2026
Smith positions the avenging goddess in a horror-show hall of mirrors, with a closed-circuit video feed focused on Vindicatrix’s upraised arm gesturing in oath.
—Horace D. Ballard, Artforum, 22 Apr. 2026
Suddenly Bieber was dancing around, trading fun glances with his fellow-artists, finally gesturing toward the usually obvious fact that a concert might also be an uncomplicatedly good time.
—Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2026
Last night’s caution for gesturing to referee Jarred Gillett that West Ham’s Crysencio Summerville should be booked left head coach Rob Edwards with a problem.
—Steve Madeley, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gesturing
Verb
-
Anunoby was having another strong game Wednesday before appearing to suffer a leg injury and motioning to come out of the game.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 May 2026
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Anunoby was having another strong game Wednesday before appearing to suffer a leg injury and motioning to come out of the game.—
CBS New York Team,
CBS News,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
During the game, the camera highlighted the couple, and their daughters quickly took the opportunity to make their presence known by waving towards the big screen, per E!—
Hannah Sacks,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
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Instead, it is filled with a froth of virtual particles becoming real in pairs, waving to us, annihilating each other, and sinking back into the soup of virtual particles.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gesturing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gesturing. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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