gesticulate

[je-stik-yuh-leyt]

verb (used without object)

gesticulated, gesticulating 

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

   Synonyms: signal, wave, motion, gesture

verb (used with object)

gesticulated, gesticulating 

1. to express by gesturing.

gesticulate

/ dʒɛˈstɪkjʊˌleɪt /

verb

1. to express by or make gestures

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of gesticulate¹

1595–1605; < Latin gesticulātus (past participle of gesticulārī ), equivalent to Late Latin (assumed in Latin ) gesticul ( us ) gesture (diminutive of gestus; gestic, -cule ¹ ) + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of gesticulate¹

C17: from Latin gesticulārī, from Latin gesticulus (unattested except in Late Latin) gesture, diminutive of gestus gesture, from gerere to bear, conduct

Example Sentences

When asked how she knew that, she gesticulated and pointed at her eyes, and shook her head incredulously.

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Emery directed his team, often gesticulating to up the tempo.

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A video that went viral at the time showed a prominent news anchor hysterically gesticulating and accusing Chakraborty of being "a druggie".

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Slot had been seen moments after Tarkowski's equalising gesticulating to suggest there had been a foul in the build-up to the goal.

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From early in the first set, Kyrgios was doing a lot of gesticulating and voicing his complaints between points.

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