gesture
Americannoun
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a movement or position of the hand, arm, body, head, or face that is expressive of an idea, opinion, emotion, etc..
the gestures of an orator; a threatening gesture.
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the use of such movements to express thought, emotion, etc.
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any action, courtesy, communication, etc., intended for effect or as a formality; considered expression; demonstration.
a gesture of friendship.
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Digital Technology. a particular movement of the body, typically the fingers or hand, used to control or interact with a digital device (often used attributively).
a gesture command;
Use a two-finger pinching gesture on your touchscreen to zoom in or out.
verb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
noun
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a motion of the hands, head, or body to emphasize an idea or emotion, esp while speaking
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something said or done as a formality or as an indication of intention
a political gesture
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obsolete the manner in which a person bears himself; posture
verb
Usage
What does gesture mean? A gesture is a movement of the hand, arms, or other body part that is intended to indicate or emphasize something, often when speaking. In other words, gestures are body movements that express something. For example, a wave of the hand is a common gesture used to say hello to someone. In this sense, gesture is also commonly used as a verb. A gesture can also be an action done for a specific reason, such as to show gratitude, as in Sending him flowers was a nice gesture. In the context of digital technology, we interact with touchscreen devices using gestures—movements such as swiping a finger from side to side or using two fingers to “pinch” the screen and zoom in and out. Example: When Tom walked into the office, his boss made a gesture to him to have a seat so they could talk.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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has gesturedperfect 3rd person singular
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have gesturedperfect
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have been gesturingperfect progressive
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is gesturingprogressive 3rd person singular
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are gesturingprogressive
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has been gesturingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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am gesturingprogressive 1st person singular
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gesturessingular 3rd person
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gesturingparticiple
Past
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had gesturedperfect
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had been gesturingperfect progressive
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were gesturingprogressive plural
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was gesturingprogressive singular
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gesturedsimple
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gesturedparticiple
Future
Etymology
Origin of gesture
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Medieval Latin gestūra “mode of action, manner, bearing,” from Latin gest(us) “conducted” (past participle of gerere “to carry, conduct, display”) + -ūra -ure
Explanation
The thing to remember about gesture, whether you're using it as a verb or a noun, is that not only is it a movement of the hands or body, but it's also a movement that has some meaning, intention, or emotion behind it. When you use gesture, you are entering into a whole history of human communication, because there is no language that exists entirely without gesture (a fun fact to bring up at parties). People can't communicate without gesture. It's so connected to intention that there is a phrase "empty gesture," used to mean an action or movement that is without genuine feeling.
Vocabulary lists containing gesture
TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
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"Of Mice and Men"
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"The Great Gatsby," Chapter 1 Vocabulary
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
After a gesture to follow, I was handed a lantern.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026
“It would be very unusual for the ECB to raise rates just once, and it would risk looking like a token gesture rather than a meaningful response,” said Jack Allen-Reynolds, an economist at Capital Economics.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026
The gesture felt especially important because the tournament is beginning under difficult circumstances for Iran.
From Barron's • Jun. 7, 2026
Before kick-off, Iranian players presented white roses to their American counterparts as a gesture of peace, in a moment widely seen as transcending politics.
From BBC • Jun. 7, 2026
He lifts his hands, palms up, in a helpless gesture.
From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
