empathize

• empathise (British, Canadian, Australian)

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈɛmpəˌθaɪz/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

empathize (third-person singular simple present empathizes, present participle empathizing, simple past and past participle empathized)

1. (intransitive) to feel empathy for another person

   empathize with someone

   • 2001, Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, Alias, season 1, episode 3:

     Must have been […] devastating when Kenny was killed. But I want you to know that you can trust me. I understand you. I empathize.

Used similarly to sympathize, interchangeably in looser usage. In stricter usage, empathize is stronger and more intimate, while sympathize is weaker and more distant; see empathy: usage notes.

• empathizer