# gesture

/ˈdʒɛstʃɝ/ (US) · /dʒˈɛstʃɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/gesture
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. physical movement

noun · CEFR B2

a movement of part of the body, especially a hand or the head, to express an idea or meaning.

For teachers: a physical motion of the limbs or body used to communicate or emphasize a thought or feeling.

- He made a small gesture with his hand to show that he was finished.
- The speaker used an expansive hand gesture to emphasize the scale of the project during the presentation.

### 2. symbolic action

noun · CEFR B2

something you do to show a particular feeling or intention, even if it doesn't change the situation much.

For teachers: an action performed to convey a specific intention, attitude, or social formality.

- Sending flowers was a kind gesture after they helped her move house.
- The company's donation was seen as a symbolic gesture of goodwill toward the local community after the recent controversy.

### 3. touchscreen command

noun · CEFR B2

a specific movement you make on a screen or with a mouse to tell a computer what to do.

For teachers: a specific motion made on a touchscreen or with a pointing device that a system interprets as a command.

- You can use a swiping gesture to delete emails on your phone.
- The latest operating system update introduced several new multi-touch gestures to improve navigation between open applications.

### 4. to signal with the body

verb · CEFR B2

to move your hands or head to tell someone something or to show them where to go.

For teachers: to use physical motions to communicate a message or to direct someone's attention.

- The waiter gestured toward an empty table in the corner of the restaurant.
- She gestured for him to remain silent while the recording was in progress.

Usage: often followed by a preposition like 'to' or 'toward'

## Examples

- He made a friendly gesture with his hand.
- Sending flowers to the hospital was a kind gesture that showed she was thinking of her friend.
- The diplomat's refusal to shake hands was seen as a hostile gesture that signaled the breakdown of the peace negotiations.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.