empathize

American  

[em-puh-thahyz] / ˈɛm pəˌθaɪz /

especially British, empathise

verb (used without object)

empathized, empathizing

1. to experience empathy (often followed bywith ).

   His ability to empathize with people made him an excellent marriage counselor.

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empathize British  

/ ˈɛmpəˌθaɪz /

verb

1. (intr) to engage in or feel empathy

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Usage

What does empathize mean? To empathize with someone is to imagine or try to deeply understand what they are feeling or what it’s like to be in their situation. The ability or the practice of doing this is called empathy, which is often described as the ability to feel what others are feeling as if you are feeling it yourself. So, to empathize is to feel empathy for someone. People who do this are described as empathetic. Some people use the word empathize interchangeably or in overlapping ways with the word sympathize, which generally means to share someone else’s emotions, especially sadness. However, others distinguish the two terms by emphasizing the importance of empathizing with others (feeling their pain) as opposed to sympathizing with them (feeling sorry for them). Example: Having faced many of the same challenges, Nyala is able to empathize with other immigrants and what they go through. 

Etymology

Origin of empathize

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

Explanation

To empathize is to understand or relate to someone else's emotional experience. If you get teary-eyed upon hearing about the death of your friend's pet hermit crab, you're probably empathizing with your friend — unless you're just bored to tears by her story. Empathize is often used interchangeably with sympathize, but you'll get no empathy (or sympathy) from usage experts if you confuse the two. When you sympathize with another person, you feel sad that she is suffering, but you don't necessarily relate to her experience. It's easiest to empathize when you've been through a similar experience; for example, if your pet guppy had recently passed away, your friend's hermit crab story would have broken your heart due to empathy.

Example Sentences

Marozzi, who declined to share his voting record over privacy concerns, explained that he can empathize with a no pain, no gain mentality.

From Barron's • Mar. 21, 2026

I deeply empathize with Jordan and Lindo — and Davidson, who has expressed profound regret in the days since.

From Salon • Mar. 1, 2026

When I think about what my kids will need as they get older, it’s human qualities: the ability to relate, to empathize and be around other humans.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 26, 2026

“I deeply empathize with her and understand her,” Weisz says.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 26, 2026

Not only will the students be able to empathize with Gerda’s feelings of persecution and loss, but I hope they’ll be able to understand how Anne Frank must have felt.

From "The Freedom Writers Diary" by The Freedom Writers

Related Words

• sympathize