1
as in sign
a movement of the body or limbs that expresses or emphasizes an idea or feeling
a teenager who often shrugs her shoulders in a gesture of indifference
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in courtesy
an act or utterance that is a customary show of good manners
sent a handwritten thank-you note as a gesture of his gratitude
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of gesture
Kathy and Ross Petrass, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2026
They can be controlled with your voice, buttons or some simple gestures and use artificial intelligence to interpret surroundings and provide audio feedback.
—ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026
Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
Most of medicine can gesture toward clean endpoints.
—Kyle P. Edmonds, STAT, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gesture
Noun
That’s when someone inundates you with affectionate words and gestures early on to build influence.
—Kathy and Ross Petrass, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2026
They can be controlled with your voice, buttons or some simple gestures and use artificial intelligence to interpret surroundings and provide audio feedback.
—ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026
Verb
The inequalities of the art world are gestured to as fact.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
Most of medicine can gesture toward clean endpoints.
—Kyle P. Edmonds, STAT, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gesture
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gesture
Noun
-
Other factors, including scars, bruising, ligature marks and signs of malnutrition, supported evidence of long-term abuse, the warrant affidavit said.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Many of the victims of Saturday's attack were reportedly from a village near the town of Cajibío, where a vigil was held Monday, with hundreds of people dressing in white as a sign of peace.—
Frank Andrews,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Photograph courtesy Larysa Khodymchuk Nataliia had made many visits to Chernobyl over the years.—
Lizzie Johnson,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2026
-
JetBlue said customers with disabilities will still be invited to pre-board, while active military members and those traveling with car seats or strollers will be offered courtesy boarding.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Thunder guard Alex Caruso then walked to the officials and motioned for a technical foul, arguing Booker had flipped the ball at Williams on purpose.—
Doug Haller,
New York Times,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Attorney Lynn Johnson stood before jurors in a Kansas City, Kansas, courtroom Tuesday afternoon and motioned to a metal device on wheels that was sitting in front of them.—
Judy L. Thomas,
Kansas City Star,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Analysts said the decision could serve as a signal to founders about relocating sensitive technology overseas.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Transportation officials say the ongoing closures are part of an effort to modernize signals and improve the reliability of subway service, with work expected to wrap in 2027.—
Christina Fan,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The goldendoodle’s shoulder tap felt almost human in its politeness, and the woman’s response — smiling, breaking off a piece and blowing on it — felt effortlessly warm.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
27 Apr. 2026
-
When talking to your peers, politeness is of paramount importance.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Kevin Durant waving bye to Deandre Ayton after he was ejected from the game.—
Dan Woike,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Wayne remembers trying to care for his father in his last years, only to be waved off during hours-long phone conversations with Sonny Rollins.—
Hannah Edgar,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But writ large, is there thought of increasing the country's security posture after last night?—
CBS News,
CBS News,
26 Apr. 2026
-
As the Navy’s prime submarine contractor, Electric Boat is at the center of a push to replace an aging submarine force as the country races to balance China’s rapid naval expansion and its increasingly hostile posture in the Indo-Pacific.—
Edmund H. Mahony,
Hartford Courant,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Former Canadiens captain Yvan Cournoyer entered the Bell Centre from that plaza holding a torch, walked it into the building and the arena bowl, setting off the Canadiens’ traditional playoff ritual of the ice catching fire, and the building roared.—
Arpon Basu,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
-
This year’s Kentucky Derby will be Buttleman’s 31st as the official bugler at Churchill Downs, and over the years, the musician has developed a pre-race ritual.—
Betsy Cribb Watson,
Southern Living,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gesture.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gesture. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
