Meaning

A motion of the limbs or body, especially one made to emphasize speech..

Definitions by Sense

1. A motion of the limbs or body, especially one made to emphasize speech.
2. An act or a remark that serves as a formality or as a sign of attitude.
3. (graphical user interface) A motion made with a pointing device, or on a touchscreen, that is recognised by the system as a command.
4. (obsolete) The manner of carrying the body; position of the body or limbs; posture.
5. (intransitive) To make a gesture or gestures.
6. (transitive) To express (something) by a gesture or gestures.
7. (transitive) To accompany or illustrate with gesture or action.
8. (transitive) To express or signal (to someone) by a gesture or gestures (to do something, go somewhere, etc).

Example Sentences

The middle-finger gesture is really a nonverbal swear.

Grace was in all her steps, heaven in her eye, / In every gesture dignity and love.

Hand gestures are also essential to Belter communication, as they evolved from the days of wearing space suits with poor comms during the early settler days.

We took flowers as a gesture of sympathy.

But, with a gesture, she put a period to this dalliance—one shouldn't palter so on an empty stomach, she might almost have said.

This Web browser can be controlled with mouse gestures.

Accubation, or lying down at meals, was a gesture used by very many nations.

My dad told me never to gesture with my hands when I talk.

Word Forms

• gestures
• gesturing
• gestured

Synonyms for gesture

Related Words

When Should You Use Gesture?

Use gesture when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

Practice This Word

Frequently Asked Questions