empathize

[em-puh-thahyz]

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.

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. 2018

Examples from the Web for empathize

Contemporary Examples

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
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
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
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
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

Historical Examples

They weren't able to—to empathize the Martians, or whatever you call it.
Duel on Syrtis
Poul William Anderson
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
But Brion could empathize their feelings, the warmth of their intense relief and happiness.
Planet of the Damned
Harry Harrison
Yet Brion could empathize their feelings, the warmth of their intense relief and happiness.
Sense of Obligation
Henry Maxwell Dempsey (AKA Harry Harrison)

British Dictionary definitions for empathize

empathize

empathise

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

Word Origin and History for empathize

v.

1924, in psychology, from empathy + -ize. Related: Empathized; empathizing.

empathize in Medicine

empathize

(ĕm′pə-thīz′)

To feel empathy in relation to another person.

empathize

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}empathize

Examples from the Web for empathize

Contemporary Examples

But Babylon asks us to do a little more: It wants us to empathize.

Jay is hard to empathize with and his silence suggests that, yeah, something is up.

Also you do have a lot of young girls seeing this film, and they should have somebody in there who they can empathize with.

As I uncovered these stories, I found a way to empathize with members of the Greek system.

Both came off as negative, terrible people as they bickered, and it was still impossible not to empathize with both of them.

Historical Examples

They weren't able to—to empathize the Martians, or whatever you call it.

How ironic that the only people who can empathize with them are the Macedonians who share the same fear of being quartered.

They empathize—that is, see through our eyes, feel with our fingertips—so that they perceive what we do.

But Brion could empathize their feelings, the warmth of their intense relief and happiness.

Yet Brion could empathize their feelings, the warmth of their intense relief and happiness.

empathize

empathise

Word Origin and History for empathize

v.

empathize

Origin of empathize