gesticulate

[ je-stik-yuh-leyt ]

verb (used without object)

, ges·tic·u·lat·ed, ges·tic·u·lat·ing.

1. to make or use gestures, especially in an animated or excited manner with or instead of speech.

   Synonyms: signal, wave, motion, gesture

verb (used with object)

, ges·tic·u·lat·ed, ges·tic·u·lat·ing.

1. to express by gesturing.

gesticulate

/ dʒɛˈstɪkjʊˌleɪt /

verb

1. to express by or make gestures

Derived Forms

• gesˈticulative, adjective
• gesˈticuˌlator, noun

Other Words From

• ges·ticu·lative ges·tic·u·la·to·ry [je-, stik, -y, uh, -l, uh, -tawr-ee, -tohr-ee], adjective
• ges·ticu·lator noun
• over·ges·ticu·late verb overgesticulated overgesticulating
• over·ges·ticu·lative adjective
• over·ges·ticu·lative·ly adverb
• unges·ticu·lating adjective
• unges·ticu·lative adjective
• unges·ticu·la·tory adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of gesticulate¹

1595–1605; < Latin gesticulātus (past participle of gesticulārī ), equivalent to Late Latin (assumed in Latin ) gesticul ( us ) gesture (diminutive of gestus; gestic, -cule ¹ ) + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of gesticulate¹

C17: from Latin gesticulārī, from Latin gesticulus (unattested except in Late Latin) gesture, diminutive of gestus gesture, from gerere to bear, conduct

Example Sentences

A staffer rushes to grab a water bottle as Gascón alternates between explaining his position on the death penalty and repeatedly trying to sync his voice and awkwardly gesticulate along with a viral audio snippet as one of his campaign’s teenage interns captures it all on her cellphone camera.

From Los Angeles Times

Dart looked close to tears at the start of the second set and continued to gesticulate towards her team, which was led by mum Susie who has been coaching her in New York.

From BBC

They even made note of our facial expressions and the way we would gesticulate, and they worked that into it a bit, so I would say it was unusually collaborative.

From Salon

"Particularly if you know or have any inkling that that client is going to get on the stand and get in the well and gesticulate and berate the court officers and berate the judge and the entire justice system that is responsible for conducting this hearing, that you are an officiant of, as a lawyer, you're not going to do that."

From Salon

They grin and gesticulate as they take it in turns to talk.

From BBC