Empathize

usgb/ˈempəθaɪz/
verb

To understand and share another person's feelings or experiences.

As a teacher, it's important to empathize with your students.
Visual representation of "empathize" - To understand and share another person's feelings or experiences.

Often appears as...

  • empathize with someone
  • empathize with feelings
Definition 1 of 2
Visual representation of "empathize"
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Shared Emotion

Empathize involves a deep emotional understanding, not just a surface reaction.

Illustration for Shared Emotion
She empathized with his loss, recalling the pain of her own.
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Active Effort

To empathize requires actively imagining how someone else feels.

Illustration for Active Effort
He tried to empathize with her situation by recalling his similar experiences.
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Not Sympathy

Unlike sympathy, empathize doesn't imply feeling sorry for someone, but feeling with them.

Illustration for Not Sympathy
I don't just sympathize with you; I truly empathize.
Visual representation of the word "Empathize"

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