gesture Definition
a movement of part of the body, especially a hand or the head, to express an idea or meaning.
Using gesture: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "gesture" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
She made a gesture of apology.
Example
He gestured towards the door.
Example
The teacher used gestures to help the students understand the lesson.
Example
The politician's gestures were interpreted as insincere.
gesture Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for gesture
Idioms Using gesture
an action that shows you are not willing to obey or accept someone or something
Example
She raised her fist in a gesture of defiance.
an action that shows you want to be friendly with someone
Example
He offered his hand in a gesture of friendship.
an action that shows support for a cause or group of people
Example
The protesters raised their fists in a gesture of solidarity.
Phrases with gesture
empty gesture
an action that is done to show that you are doing something but that has no real effect or value
Example
The company's donation was seen as an empty gesture.
a large or impressive action that is done to show how much you care about someone or something
Example
He made a grand gesture of love by proposing to her in front of a crowd.
Example
The company's gesture of goodwill was to offer free services to the community.
Origins of gesture
from Latin 'gestus', meaning 'action, gesture'
Summary: gesture in Brief
The term 'gesture' [ˈdʒestʃər] refers to a movement of the body, often a hand or head, to express an idea or meaning. It can be used to convey apologies, directions, or emotions, as in 'She made a gesture of apology.' 'Gesture' also appears in phrases like 'empty gesture,' indicating an action with no real effect, and idioms like 'a gesture of defiance,' showing a refusal to obey or accept something.
