gesticulate
Americanverb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of gesticulate
1595–1605; < Latin gesticulātus (past participle of gesticulārī ), equivalent to Late Latin (assumed in Latin ) gesticul ( us ) gesture (diminutive of gestus; see gestic, -cule 1) + -ātus -ate 1
Explanation
When you gesticulate, you make sweeping and excited movements with your hands when speaking. Someone describing a scary car accident might gesticulate wildly. The verb gesticulate is related to the noun gesture. Gesture has stress on the first syllable, and gesticulate has the stress on the second syllable. Gesticulate, which comes from the Latin gesticulus meaning "to mimic," describes animated movements people make in conversation — with and without words. People who gesticulate could be said to talk with their hands!
Vocabulary lists containing gesticulate
The Lingo of Body Language
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Grade 10, List 4
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Life Is So Good
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Let the officers pore over their digital maps and the soldiers gesticulate obscurely at one another on the field.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 18, 2025
They even made note of our facial expressions and the way we would gesticulate, and they worked that into it a bit, so I would say it was unusually collaborative.
From Salon • Feb. 1, 2024
They grin and gesticulate as they take it in turns to talk.
From BBC • Dec. 23, 2023
City’s manager was furious, repeatedly turning to the Anfield fans behind the dugout to gesticulate.
From Seattle Times • Oct. 16, 2022
Perhaps your conscience will tell you why—tell you, I mean, that great supreme gestes are only fair when addressed to those who can themselves gesticulate.
From The Letters of Henry James, Vol. II by James, Henry
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.
