verb

empathize

EHM-puh-thyz

Empathize (verb) means to understand and share the feelings of another person. Example: “It's hard to empathize with a situation you've never experienced yourself.”

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

Word forms

empathized past tense, empathizes singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “empathize” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

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

Synonyms

View more →

understand sympathize empathise sympathise

Related words

know understand realize realise grasp concur infer empathise

Rhymes for empathize

size maize prize Belize utilize capsize realize baptize idolize optimize monetize colonize

See all rhymes for empathize →

Frequently asked questions

What does “empathize” mean?

The word “empathize” means to understand and share the feelings of another person. In plain terms, to really understand and feel what someone else is going through, almost as if it were happening to you.

How do you pronounce “empathize”?

“Empathize” is pronounced EHM-puh-thyz (/ˈɛmpəˌθaɪz/ in IPA).

How do you use “empathize” in a sentence?

Here is “empathize” used in a sentence: “It's hard to empathize with a situation you've never experienced yourself.”

What part of speech is “empathize”?

“Empathize” is a verb.

People also searched

know understand realize realise grasp concur infer empathise