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
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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
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Recent Examples of gesture
Washington Post, 5 Jan. 2026
Such a simple gesture can be the perfect complement to the most spectacular dress—and, incidentally, to the Cartier jewelry the actress was wearing.
—Arancha Gamo, Glamour, 4 Jan. 2026
James Somers, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
As the moon rose, Mugibelo gestured out to the salt pans behind us.
—AFAR Media, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gesture
Noun
These superficial gestures amount to rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.
—Verb
In 1995, when the book was published, Hofstadter and his research group could only gesture at what the answer might be.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for gesture
Noun
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About 30 percent of the galaxies emit radio waves, a sign that their central black holes are active.—
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The rich-looking denim alternative was a big trend in 2025, with co-signs from Hailey Bieber and Martha Stewart.—
Noun
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An important piece of cosmic intel or a unique insight could arrive courtesy of a friend.—
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Bieber paired the mesmerizing dress with large statement 30-carat diamond studs, a few diamond rings courtesy of Lorraine Schwartz, and a pair of black open-toed heels.—
Verb
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The team motioned but stayed in punt formation.—
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Strange, though, motioned inside to help block an all-out Denver blitz.—
Noun
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The outer layer of the capsule is made from gelatin coated with a layer of cellulose and either molybdenum or tungsten, which blocks any RF signal from being emitted.—
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Advance Denim’s exclusive use of HV100 in key Asian markets is a clear signal that the future of denim doesn’t have to compromise between aesthetic authenticity, technical performance and planetary well-being.—
Noun
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The advice here is to stop overcommitting out of politeness.—
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And yet, beneath the veil of politeness, there was rhetoric from the US president that suggests his default position in negotiations is still to pressure Kyiv, while appeasing Moscow.—
Verb
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Demonstrators waved signs, chanted in English and Spanish and danced to music from portable speakers.—
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Good, in the driver’s seat, waves cars past her.—
Noun
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Maintaining an upright posture, press the dumbbells overhead until your elbows are almost straight.—
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The Four Freedoms were civic posture.—
Noun
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Mount Hora may have been a natural monument, memorial or place where people returned to share cultural rituals — even generations after the cremation, Sawchuk said.—
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Michelle Buteau doesn’t believe in perfect mornings, spotless sweatpants, or rigid holiday rituals.—
Cite this Entry
“Gesture.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gesture. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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