empathize

[ em-puh-thahyz ]

/ ˈɛm pəˌθaɪz /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR empathize ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), em·pa·thized, em·pa·thiz·ing.

to experience empathy (often followed by with): His ability to empathize with people made him an excellent marriage counselor.

Nearby words

Also especially British, em·pa·thise.

Origin of empathize

First recorded in 1920–25; empath(y) + -ize

Can be confusedempathize sympathize

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for empathize

But Babylon asks us to do a little more: It wants us to empathize.
'Babylon' Review: The Dumb Lives of Trigger-Happy Cops|Melissa Leon|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Jay is hard to empathize with and his silence suggests that, yeah, something is up.
The Deal With Serial’s Jay? He’s Pissed Off, Mucks Up Our Timeline|Emily Shire|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Also you do have a lot of young girls seeing this film, and they should have somebody in there who they can empathize with.
‘No Regrets’: Peter Jackson Says Goodbye to Middle-Earth|Alex Suskind|December 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As I uncovered these stories, I found a way to empathize with members of the Greek system.
Stepford Sororities: The Pressures of USC’s Greek Life|Maya Richard Craven|November 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Both came off as negative, terrible people as they bickered, and it was still impossible not to empathize with both of them.
‘Scandal’ Review: Olivia Pope Has Lost Her Damn Mind|Kevin Fallon|September 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
How ironic that the only people who can empathize with them are the Macedonians who share the same fear of being quartered.
After the Rain|Sam Vaknin
They empathize—that is, see through our eyes, feel with our fingertips—so that they perceive what we do.
Breaking Point|James E. Gunn
Yet Brion could empathize their feelings, the warmth of their intense relief and happiness.
Sense of Obligation|Henry Maxwell Dempsey (AKA Harry Harrison)
They weren't able to—to empathize the Martians, or whatever you call it.
Duel on Syrtis|Poul William Anderson
But Brion could empathize their feelings, the warmth of their intense relief and happiness.
Planet of the Damned|Harry Harrison

British Dictionary definitions for empathize

empathize

empathise

/ (ˈɛmpəˌθaɪz) /

verb

(intr) to engage in or feel empathy

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

empathize

verb (used without object), em·pa·thized, em·pa·thiz·ing.

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Origin of empathize

Examples from the Web for empathize

British Dictionary definitions for empathize

empathize

empathise

verb

Word Origin and History for empathize

empathize

Medicine definitions for empathize

empathize

v.