1
: a movement usually of the body or limbs that expresses or emphasizes an idea, sentiment, or attitude
raised his hand overhead in a gesture of triumph
2
: the use of motions of the limbs or body as a means of expression
3
: something said or done by way of formality or courtesy, as a symbol or token, or for its effect on the attitudes of others
… a political gesture to draw popular support …—
V. L. Parrington
V. L. Parrington
gestured; gesturing
: to make a gesture (see gesture entry 1 sense 1)
: to express or direct by a gesture (see gesture entry 1 sense 1)
Examples of gesture in a Sentence
Noun
Specific gestures can indicate particular moods.
His arm was raised in a gesture of defiance.
Verb
She gestured towards the fireplace.
He gestured at his audience.
The room was filled with angry people shouting and gesturing.
He gestured to his partner to leave.
Recent Examples on the Web
Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025
In 2019, media outlet Genius produced a video noting that while NLE Choppa and YoungBoy Never Broke Again use the term and gesture, it was first popularized by Young Thug.
—Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 28 Mar. 2025
Mark Leibovich, The Atlantic, 31 Mar. 2025
The new backstory between Peter (Alexander Molony) and Hook (Jude Law) represents the movie’s incomplete imagination, gesturing at an expansion of its source material without actually fleshing out those ideas.
—Staff Author, EW.com, 22 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gesture
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Noun
Several subreddits banned links to X after the tech billionaire made a Nazi salute-like gesture at a Trump inauguration event.
—Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025
In 2019, media outlet Genius produced a video noting that while NLE Choppa and YoungBoy Never Broke Again use the term and gesture, it was first popularized by Young Thug.
—Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 28 Mar. 2025
Verb
After a few minutes, the publicist started gesturing in my direction.
—Mark Leibovich, The Atlantic, 31 Mar. 2025
The new backstory between Peter (Alexander Molony) and Hook (Jude Law) represents the movie’s incomplete imagination, gesturing at an expansion of its source material without actually fleshing out those ideas.
—Staff Author, EW.com, 22 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gesture
Cite this Entry
“Gesture.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gesture. Accessed 5 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
gesture
1 of 2 noun
ges·ture
ˈjes-chər 
ˈjesh-
1
: a movement of the body or limbs that expresses or emphasizes an idea or a feeling
2
: something said or done by way of courtesy or for its effect on other people
a political gesture
gesture
2 of 2 verb
gestured; gesturing
: to make or direct with a gesture
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