ENGLISH
REFERENCE

gestures

n. countable
B1 Intermediate US //ˈdʒɛstʃɝz// UK //dʒˈɛstʃəz// ges·tures

n. movements you make with your hands, arms, or head to express an idea or feeling. You use them to help people understand what you are saying.

n. movements of a part of the body, especially a hand or the head, to express an idea or meaning. Often used to supplement or replace verbal communication.


SIMPLE

He made a friendly gesture with his hand.

CONTEXTUAL

The speaker used wide hand gestures to emphasize the most important points of her presentation.

COMPLEX

While some gestures are universal, many hand signals carry vastly different meanings across cultures, leading to potential misunderstandings in international business settings.

Synonyms
Usage

Commonly used with the verb 'make' or 'use'.

© 2026 English Reference