gestural

adjective

ges·​tur·​al ˈjes-chə-rəl 

ˈjesh-

1

: of, relating to, or consisting of gestures

2

: of, relating to, or characterized by vigorous application of paint and expressive brushwork

gestural expressionism

gesturally

ˈjes-chə-rə-lē 

ˈjesh-

adverb

Examples of gestural in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Most of Enthalpy has the gestural looseness of spontaneous composition. — Reed Jackson, SPIN, 28 Sep. 2026

One of the most prominent theories about the origins of human language is that our ancestors started to communicate using gestural language. — Hannah Little, Scientific American, 20 Sep. 2026

Heilmann first applied a foundational layer, frequently deploying gestural marks, then masked off portions of this base and overpainted it with a geometric second layer. — News Desk, Artforum, 17 Aug. 2026

The editing rhythms are clipped and almost metronomically precise; individual scenes feel less composed than synthesized from an array of swift, gestural fragments—a hand on a doorknob, a face at the window—which have the effect of heightening your attention. — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 26 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1613, in the meaning defined at sense 1