WordGarden.ioempathize
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /ˈɛmpəθˌaɪz/
US
- /ˈɛmpəˌθaɪz/
Meanings
Verb
to understand or share another person's feelings or perspective
Beyond the definition
To empathize with someone is not just sympathy—feeling bad for them. It goes a step further. It means understanding and sharing their feelings, almost as if you were going through the moment with them. Imagine a friend is heartbroken after losing a pet. You might sympathize by saying, "That's awful." But to empathize, you try to remember what a beloved animal meant to you and feel some of that sadness with them.
It is not about agreeing with someone; it is about understanding how things feel from their side. A good listener may do this when two people are in conflict and need help finding common ground. Writers do it too when they imagine a character's life and feelings. It is an important skill for building strong relationships, giving support, and handling difficult social situations.
Empathize means to understand and share the feelings of another person. It goes beyond simply noticing that someone is sad or angry; it involves stepping into their shoes and seeing the world from their point of view. Think of it as feeling with someone rather than simply feeling for them.
The word comes from the German Einfühlung, meaning "feeling into." While sympathy acknowledges another person's pain, empathy tries to understand the feelings behind that pain and share in the emotional experience. A doctor who empathizes with a patient is not just diagnosing an illness; they are also recognizing the fear and discomfort that may come with it.
Empathy is important for strong human connections. It helps us build trust, offer real support, and deal with conflict more calmly. It is often seen as a key part of compassion and kindness. At the same time, empathy has limits; constantly taking in the emotions of others can leave a person emotionally drained.
You might say, "I empathize with her frustration after waiting in line for hours," or "The therapist helped him learn to empathize with his estranged father." In a world often focused on individual experience, the ability to empathize is a powerful tool for building understanding and connection. It reminds us that everyone goes through life in their own way, with feelings that deserve to be understood.
Examples
- 1
Medical recovery
After her surgery, I could empathize with how tired she felt.
- 2
Teaching
Good teachers try to empathize with students who are afraid of making mistakes.
- 3
Moral disagreement
I don't support his choice, but I can empathize with the pressure he was under.
- 4
Fiction
The novel makes it easy to empathize with both sisters.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Customer perspective
It's hard to empathize with customers if you've never used the product yourself.
- 6
Supportive listening
Instead of giving advice right away, she just listened and tried to empathize.
See also
Similar
- identify with
- relate to
- understand
Shades of meaning
- commiserate
- put yourself in someone's shoes
Contrast
Do not confuse
Used with (collocations)
- empathize with someone
- empathize with their pain
- hard to empathize
Word family
Explore
- perspective-taking
- compassion
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- empathizeverb
Forms
- empathizing-ing formverb
- empathizedpast tenseverb
- empathizesverb