empathize

American  

[em-puh-thahyz] / ˈɛm pəˌθaɪz /

especially British, empathise

verb (used without object)

empathizes, present (3rd person singular) empathized, past participle, past empathizing present participle

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. 

Other Word Forms

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has empathized
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have empathized
  perfect
• have been empathizing
  perfect progressive
• has been empathizing
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• empathizing
  participle
• is empathizing
  progressive 3rd person singular
• am empathizing
  progressive 1st person singular
• are empathizing
  progressive
• empathizes
  singular 3rd person

Past

• had empathized
  perfect
• was empathizing
  progressive singular
• empathized
  simple
• had been empathizing
  perfect progressive
• were empathizing
  progressive plural
• empathized
  participle

Future

• will empathize
  simple
• will have empathized
  perfect
• will have been empathizing
  perfect progressive
• will be empathizing
  progressive

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

Empathize with those who aren’t seeing better tidings despite his administration’s sunny, devil-may-care outlook.

From Slate • Mar. 11, 2024

Empathize with the classmate who is acting out, and don’t let your first reaction be to seek a punishment for them, Powell said.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 12, 2023

Empathize with him—it is hard when you’re feeling anxious about a place you have to go to every day.

From Slate • Mar. 21, 2019

Empathize with their situation, but do so in a positive way that helps provide ideas for a solution.

From Forbes • Jul. 31, 2015

Empathize and assure that something will be done.

From Inc • Aug. 20, 2012

Related Words

• sympathize