gestural

adjective

ges·​tur·​al ˈjes-chə-rəl How to pronounce gestural (audio)
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 adverb

Examples of gestural in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Here, the body is the frame, which holds the infinite gestural archives within movement, while highlighting the female form as both the subject and the lens; the image and the image-maker. Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 June 2025 His singular process includes rendering each scene with gestural marks in resin, Sharpie, and various casting techniques. Natasha Gural, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025 With much encouragement from Mr. Greene, Mr. Stella turned out gestural paintings in the manner of Franz Kline and Willem de Kooning. William Grimes, New York Times, 4 May 2024 The tarps are painted and manipulated in ways that are gestural and that appear almost like a Stella painting. Tom Teicholz, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for gestural

Word History

First Known Use

1613, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of gestural was in 1613

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Cite this Entry

“Gestural.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gestural. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.

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