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
1
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 notesIn 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
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- empathizes
- Past tense
- empathized
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
It's hard to _____ with a situation you've never experienced yourself.
Related words
Rhymes for empathize
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.
