Standard Lemma guide

empathize

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • US: /ˈɛmpəˌθaɪz/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: EH1 M P AH0 TH AY2 Z Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

to feel empathy for another person

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Examples

  • empathize with someone

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

be understanding of

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • You don't need to explain--I understand!

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: sympathize, sympathise, empathise, understand

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

25 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 同情 (tóngqíng) — to feel empathy for another person
  • Finnish: eläytyä — to feel empathy for another person
  • Finnish: empatisoida — to feel empathy for another person
  • Finnish: tuntea empatiaa — to feel empathy for another person
  • French: compatir — to feel empathy for another person
  • French: s'apitoyer — to feel empathy for another person
  • German: mitfühlen — to feel empathy for another person
  • German: Mitgefühl haben — to feel empathy for another person
  • German: mitempfinden — to feel empathy for another person
  • Greek: συναισθάνομαι (synaisthánomai) — to feel empathy for another person
  • Hungarian: együttérez — to feel empathy for another person
  • Hungarian: megért — to feel empathy for another person
  • Hungarian: empatizál — to feel empathy for another person
  • Italian: avere empatia — to feel empathy for another person
  • Italian: simpatizzare — to feel empathy for another person
  • Japanese: 同情する (dōjō suru) — to feel empathy for another person
  • Korean: 동정하다 (dongjeonghada) — to feel empathy for another person
  • Polish: współczuć — to feel empathy for another person
  • Russian: сопережива́ть (sopereživátʹ) — to feel empathy for another person
  • Russian: сочу́вствовать (sočúvstvovatʹ) — to feel empathy for another person
  • Spanish: empatizar — to feel empathy for another person
  • Spanish: sentir empatía — to feel empathy for another person
  • Ukrainian: співпережива́ти (spivperežyváty) — to feel empathy for another person
  • Vietnamese: đồng cảm — to feel empathy for another person
  • Vietnamese: thấu cảm — to feel empathy for another person