verb

empathize

EHM-puh-thyz

verb

To understand and share the feelings of another person.

"It's hard to empathize with a situation you've never experienced yourself."

"She empathized with him after going through a similar loss."

How to Use Empathize

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo really understand and feel what someone else is going through, almost as if it were happening to you.

Common mistake

Followed by "with," not "for" — you empathize with someone, not for them.

Common pairings

empathize with someone able to empathize

empathized past tense, empathizes singular

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Can you complete this real example?

It's hard to _____ with a situation you've never experienced yourself.

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