YOUR VOCABULARY, ONE WORD AT A TIME

gesticulate

Verb

IPA /dʒeˈstɪkjuleɪt/

Understand it. Say it. Use it.

UNDERSTAND THE WORD

Meaning in plain English

To make noticeable movements with your hands or arms while communicating.

SAY IT ALOUD

Pronunciation

gesticulate/dʒeˈstɪkjuleɪt/

PICTURE THE IDEA

See the meaning

Follow the idea

A speaker is explaining an idea
Their hands and arms move expressively
The movements help convey the message

To gesticulate is to use noticeable hand and arm movements while communicating.

SEE IT IN EVERYDAY ENGLISH

Examples in context

Read the examples aloud. Notice how the word fits the sentence, then think of a situation of your own.

He began to gesticulate when he saw that we had taken the wrong turning.
The lecturer gesticulated enthusiastically while explaining the experiment.

MAKE IT STICK

Quick word quiz

Try the question without looking back, then write a sentence of your own. You can retry as often as you like.

Can you recall the word?

Complete the example using the word from this lesson.

He began to ________ when he saw that we had taken the wrong turning.

Show the answer

gesticulate — To make noticeable movements with your hands or arms while communicating.

Try your own sentence (optional)

Make it yours

Write one sentence using “gesticulate” about your own life.

Your sentence (optional)

Check your sentence

Does your sentence match this meaning?

To make noticeable movements with your hands or arms while communicating.

Compare: He began to gesticulate when he saw that we had taken the wrong turning.

Check the spelling and how the word fits the sentence. Your example can be different.

Self-review only. Your sentence is not automatically marked, saved or submitted.

This quiz is for practice. To save lesson completion on this device, complete the checks in the app.

Word origin

From Latin gesticulari, related to a word for a gesture or action.

Did you know?

Gesticulate usually describes movements that accompany speech or try to communicate something.

Explore related words

Open a word’s lesson when available, or explore entries that use the related term.

Make the word your own

Say the word aloud and read an example sentence.
Write a new sentence about something familiar to you.
Cover the meaning and try explaining the word in your own words.

Continue with the app’s practice check, then try a sentence of your own to mark this word complete.

Practise this word in the app

Completion and saved words stay in this browser on this device.