Meaning & use
beautiful gesture
Last updated
Meanings
phrasecountable
A kind, thoughtful action that shows good feelings toward someone.
Grammar: Countable phrase; use 'a beautiful gesture' or plural 'beautiful gestures'.
Patterns
- a beautiful gesture to someone
- a beautiful gesture of something
- make a beautiful gesture
Bringing her flowers after the argument was a beautiful gesture.
He paid for their meal as a beautiful gesture of thanks.
Sending a handwritten card was a beautiful gesture that she never forgot.
phrasecountable
A graceful or elegant movement of the hands or body.
Grammar: Countable; often used for dance or art, not for kindness.
Patterns
- a beautiful gesture of the hands
- with a beautiful gesture
The dancer ended with a beautiful gesture of her arms.
He painted the figure with a beautiful gesture of the brush.
Word forms
| plural | beautiful gestures |
|---|
Common combinations
- a beautiful gesture of kindness
- Offering to help was a beautiful gesture of kindness.
- a beautiful gesture of friendship
- The gift was a beautiful gesture of friendship.
- a beautiful gesture toward someone
- Her quiet apology was a beautiful gesture toward her sister.
- make a beautiful gesture
- Sometimes making a beautiful gesture is easier than finding the right words.
- a small but beautiful gesture
- A small but beautiful gesture can change someone's day.
Synonyms and how they differ
- kind act
- Focuses on the goodness of the action rather than its elegance or emotional effect.
- nice touch
- More informal and often describes a small detail added to something.
- thoughtful gesture
- Emphasizes that the person considered the other's feelings; very close in meaning.
Opposites
Word family
- beautifully adverb
- In a beautiful way.
- beauty noun
- The quality of being beautiful.
- gesture noun
- A movement or action that expresses an idea or feeling.
Commonly confused: beautiful gesture or nice gesture?
beautiful gesture vs nice gesture
'Nice gesture' is more casual and weaker; 'beautiful gesture' sounds warmer and more emotional.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'beautiful gesture' most naturally?
Choose one answer.
'A beautiful gesture of apology' means a kind, thoughtful action. Option 2 describes a physical movement, option 3 is nonsense, and option 4 confuses 'gesture' with 'gift' or 'talent'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “beautiful gesture”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.