Gangly describes someone, usually a young person, who is tall and thin with long limbs that seem a bit awkward or uncoordinated. A gangly teenager might trip over their own feet more often than they'd like, or find their arms and legs getting tangled when they try to dance. Picture a young giraffe learning to walk: all legs and neck, not quite sure how all the parts work together yet.

The word often describes kids going through growth spurts, when their height shoots up faster than their coordination can keep pace. A gangly sixth grader might suddenly tower over classmates but still knock things over while reaching for the pencil sharpener. Their body grew quickly, and their brain is still figuring out how to control all that new length.

Gangly isn't usually meant as an insult. It describes a temporary, slightly clumsy stage that many tall people go through. Many professional athletes were gangly as kids before their coordination caught up with their height. The word suggests someone who will likely grow into their body and become graceful, but hasn't quite gotten there yet.