gesticulate

American  

[je-stik-yuh-leyt] / dʒɛˈstɪk jəˌleɪt /

verb (used without object)

• gesticulates,
  present (3rd person singular)
• gesticulated,
  past participle,  past
• gesticulating
  present participle

1. to make or use gestures, especially in an animated or excited manner with or instead of speech.

   Synonyms:

   signal, wave, motion, gesture

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verb (used with object)

• gesticulates,
  present (3rd person singular)
• gesticulated,
  past participle,  past
• gesticulating
  present participle

1. to express by gesturing.

gesticulate British  

/ dʒɛˈstɪkjʊˌleɪt /

verb

1. to express by or make gestures

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• gesticulator
  noun
• overgesticulate
  verb
• gesticulative
  adjective
• gesticulatory
  adjective
• overgesticulative
  adjective
• ungesticulating
  adjective
• ungesticulative
  adjective
• ungesticulatory
  adjective
• overgesticulatively
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Participles

• gesticulating
  present
• gesticulated
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• gesticulate
  simple
• gesticulates
  simple
• have gesticulated
  perfect
• has gesticulated
  perfect
• am gesticulating
  progressive
• are gesticulating
  progressive
• is gesticulating
  progressive
• have been gesticulating
  perfect progressive
• has been gesticulating
  perfect progressive

Past

• gesticulated
  simple
• had gesticulated
  perfect
• was gesticulating
  progressive
• were gesticulating
  progressive
• had been gesticulating
  perfect progressive

Future

• will gesticulate
  simple
• will have gesticulated
  perfect
• will be gesticulating
  progressive
• will have been gesticulating
  perfect progressive

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!

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

gesticulate gesticulates gesticulated gesticulating

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

If the fourth official intervenes, or doesn't, the whole dugout stand up and gesticulate wildly.

From BBC ● May 31, 2023

City’s manager was furious, repeatedly turning to the Anfield fans behind the dugout to gesticulate.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 16, 2022

Indeed, a well-bred lady will never gesticulate, but converse quietly, letting the expression and animation of her features give force to her words.

From The Ladies' Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness A Complete Hand Book for the Use of the Lady in Polite Society by Florence Hartley

Goodman is animated, her long red hair moving with her as she gesticulates.

From Washington Times ● Apr. 13, 2023

As she argues a point, she gesticulates broadly, leans forward and occasionally pounds the table.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 8, 2021

Instead, he drops it and picks it up, twirls it like a baton, and gesticulates wildly with it.

From Slate ● Oct. 29, 2019

The character — on closer inspection, an animated frog — paces and gesticulates, then disappears behind a fence before returning.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2018

He gesticulates wildly toward Rosie, ranting without pause.

From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen

The Real Madrid midfielder, who had already been booked, gesticulated with his arms that he did not want to be substituted.

From BBC ● Nov. 16, 2025

In contrast to Schwartz’s contrite postures, Castel gesticulated often in exasperation, his voice rising as he asked pointed questions.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 9, 2023

The former National threw down his bat and gesticulated frantically while screaming at Hernandez.

From Washington Times ● Apr. 25, 2022

Kirby Smart leaped and danced and gesticulated across the field at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis for the entirety of Monday night.

From Washington Post ● Jan. 11, 2022

At first, she spoke in low, pleading tones, then she raised her voice and gesticulated wildly.

From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

At some point, a motorcycle rider engaged the suspect, following and gesticulating at him and, at a red light, getting off his bike in an apparent attempt to open the Honda’s passenger-side door.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026

"Instead of listening to music, we listen to the news constantly," the father of three, gesticulating to emphasise his point, told AFP.

From Barron's ● Mar. 14, 2026

After taking the opener, Norrie marched out to a 4-0 lead in the second, with Medvedev yelling at himself and his coach in French and frequently gesticulating to his box.

From BBC ● May 27, 2025

The woman was gesticulating with carefully contained fury.

From Slate ● Jan. 3, 2025

Marco was pointing and shouting and gesticulating to Cook to go faster.

From "The Boy Who Met a Whale" by Nizrana Farook