sympathize
Sympathize (verb) means to feel or express understanding and care for someone else's suffering or situation. Example: “I sympathize with anyone who has to commute two hours a day.”
verb
1
To feel or express understanding and care for someone else's suffering or situation.
"I sympathize with anyone who has to commute two hours a day."
"She sympathized with her friend after the breakup."
2
To support or agree with a cause, side, or opinion.
"Many voters sympathized with the protesters' demands."
How to use sympathize
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo share or understand someone's feelings, or to support their cause.
UK vs US
British English typically spells this "sympathise"; American English uses "sympathize."
Common pairings
sympathize with
sympathize deeply
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like sympathize.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Third person singular
- sympathizes
- Past tense
- sympathized
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
I _____ with anyone who has to commute two hours a day.
Etymology
Borrowed from French sympathiser, built from sympathy + -ize.
Related words
Rhymes for sympathize
See all rhymes for sympathize →Frequently asked questions
What does “sympathize” mean?
The word “sympathize” means to feel or express understanding and care for someone else's suffering or situation. In plain terms, to share or understand someone's feelings, or to support their cause.
How do you use “sympathize” in a sentence?
Here is “sympathize” used in a sentence: “I sympathize with anyone who has to commute two hours a day.”
What part of speech is “sympathize”?
“Sympathize” is a verb.
Where does the word “sympathize” come from?
The word “sympathize” comes from French. Borrowed from French sympathiser, built from sympathy + -ize.
How many meanings does “sympathize” have?
“Sympathize” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to feel or express understanding and care for someone else's suffering or situation.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include sympathize:
